The Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez
Encyclopedia
The Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez (Das kurze Leben des José Antonio Gutierrez) is a 2006 documentary film
directed by Heidi Specogna about the second US Marine to die during the 2003 invasion of Iraq
(Lt. Shane Childers was the first American to die in the Iraq war). Gutierrez came from Guatemala
and was a so called 'green card soldier' i.e. he obtained American citizenship only after his death. He was killed by friendly fire
.
The film tells his childhood by interviewing people who had known him. Gutierrez had lived as a street child
, like many other Guatemalan children who had lost their parents during a genocidal civil war in which the CIA and the KGB
were actively involved. Later he found refuge in an orphanage
and was able to find his sister.
When he grew up Gutierrez decided to go to the United States
because he wanted to became an architect
. He was a talented draftsman and saw no possibility of realizing his dream in his home country. The film accompanies young women who, despite the risks of which they are aware, take the freight train as Gutierrez had done. In the USA Gutierrez was able to attend high school
because he looked younger than he was. Because he was considered to be a minor he could not be deported. He received a green card.
After high school he became a Marine
which surprised some of those who had known him because he had refused to speak English
and was proud of being a Guatemalan. It seems Gutierrez saw no other way to fulfil his aspiration than to risk his life for a country which he didn't consider his own.
After his death Gutierrez' sister was informed by the American ambassador. She was offered a visa to the USA which she accepted.
Although the film concentrates on Gutierrez and Guatemala it can, like other recent films (e.g. Darwin's Nightmare
), also be seen as an allegory
on globalization
.
, alongside the also-nominated Hippie Masala
, Das Erbe der Bergler, Ein Lied für Argyris and La liste de Carla.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Heidi Specogna about the second US Marine to die during the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
(Lt. Shane Childers was the first American to die in the Iraq war). Gutierrez came from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and was a so called 'green card soldier' i.e. he obtained American citizenship only after his death. He was killed by friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
.
The film tells his childhood by interviewing people who had known him. Gutierrez had lived as a street child
Street children
A street child is a child who lives on the streets of a city, deprived of family care and protection. Most children on the streets are between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old.Street children live in junk boxes, parks or on the street itself...
, like many other Guatemalan children who had lost their parents during a genocidal civil war in which the CIA and the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
were actively involved. Later he found refuge in an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
and was able to find his sister.
When he grew up Gutierrez decided to go to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because he wanted to became an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He was a talented draftsman and saw no possibility of realizing his dream in his home country. The film accompanies young women who, despite the risks of which they are aware, take the freight train as Gutierrez had done. In the USA Gutierrez was able to attend high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
because he looked younger than he was. Because he was considered to be a minor he could not be deported. He received a green card.
After high school he became a Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
which surprised some of those who had known him because he had refused to speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and was proud of being a Guatemalan. It seems Gutierrez saw no other way to fulfil his aspiration than to risk his life for a country which he didn't consider his own.
After his death Gutierrez' sister was informed by the American ambassador. She was offered a visa to the USA which she accepted.
Although the film concentrates on Gutierrez and Guatemala it can, like other recent films (e.g. Darwin's Nightmare
Darwin's Nightmare
Darwin's Nightmare is a 2004 French-Belgian-Austrian documentary film written and directed by Hubert Sauper, dealing with the environmental and social effects of the fishing industry around Lake Victoria in Tanzania. It premiered at the 2004 Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for the 2006...
), also be seen as an allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
on globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
.
Awards
It received the 2007 prize for "Best Documentary" in the Swiss Film PrizeSwiss Film Prize
The Swiss Film Prize is the national film award of Switzerland, first given out in 1998.* 1998 to 2008 : the Prize was given in during the Solothurn Film Festival....
, alongside the also-nominated Hippie Masala
Hippie Masala
Hippie Masala: Für immer in Indien is a 2006 Swiss documentary directed by filmmaker Ulrich Grossenbacher and anthropologist Damaris Lüthi....
, Das Erbe der Bergler, Ein Lied für Argyris and La liste de Carla.