Join the DC History Center for a screening of the new film: Las Muertes Más Bellas del Mundo, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.

Today, Washington, DC is home to over 200,000 Salvadorans. How did this population come to live in DC? What has building community looked like in the region? And how have Salvadoran immigrants in turn shaped the city?

“In 1980, the civil war in El Salvador hurled a human bomb in Washington’s direction. We were the pieces of Spanish-speaking shrapnel flying all over… and what do you do when your house is on fire? You run. So we ran and we landed here. And Washington has been stuck with the pupusa ever since.”

— Quique Aviles

ABOUT THE FILM (English)
1980 marked the beginning of an exodus of Salvadorans fleeing a US-backed war, with tens of thousands of people making the Washington, DC region their new home. This mass migration gave birth to a new artistic movement and a uniquely Salvadoran-Wachintonian identity. In the process, Salvadoran artists and community have shaped the city’s vibrant and thriving cultural scene. Las Muertes Más Bellas del Mundo tells a story of the Salvadoran diaspora’s struggles and humanity through the eyes of these artists who created art out of war. Collectively, their stories tell a compelling, intimate, and historically-grounded narrative of a community resolving trauma and finding identity, salvation, and joy.

SOBRE LA PELÍCULA (Español)
1980 marcó el comienzo de un éxodo de salvadoreños que huían de una guerra respaldada por los Estados Unidos, y decenas de miles de personas hicieron de la región de Washington, DC su nuevo hogar. Esta migración masiva dio origen a un nuevo movimiento artístico y una identidad exclusivamente salvadoreña-wachintoniana. En el proceso, los artistas y la comunidad salvadoreños han dado forma a la vibrante y próspera escena cultural de la ciudad. Las Muertes Más Bellas del Mundo cuenta una historia de las luchas y la humanidad de la diáspora salvadoreña a través de los ojos de estos artistas que crearon arte a partir de la guerra. Colectivamente, sus historias cuentan una narrativa convincente, íntima y con base histórica de una comunidad que resuelve un trauma y encuentra identidad, salvación y alegría.

WHAT TO EXPECT

5:30 PM	Check-in begins
5:45 PM	Film starts (run time: 75 minutes)
7:00 PM	Discussion with filmmakers
7:30 PM	Program ends

The production team is still raising funds to pay for all costs associated with the making of the film. Donations will be accepted at the event. If you’d like to donate now, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lasmuertesfilm 

REGISTRATION

Registration for this event is free for all attendees but does not guarantee a seat. Capacity is limited, and walk-ins are welcome.

ACCESSIBILITY

If you require accommodation for a disability, email us at programs@dchistory.org. Please give us two weeks' notice to best meet your needs. We are committed to making events accessible for all participants. There will be photo and video taken at this event.

LANGUAGE
The film is bilingual with subtitles in English and Spanish; however, the Q&A will primarily be in English.

DC HISTORY CENTER PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY:

image with eventsdc and dc commission on the arts and humanities