Zapatista (1999)

As the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) springs into action. At that very moment, in the southeastern reaches of Mexico, a silent revolution is birthed. Thousands of indigenous soldiers, armed only with rudimentary weapons and the power of their voices, seize control of half of Chiapas. Their fight is not merely a local conflict, but a declaration of war against the formidable forces of global corporate power, a desperate cry for humanity. They christen themselves the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). "Zapatista" is a raw and uncompromising exploration of this uprising in Chiapas. It is the chronicle of a Mayan peasant revolt, a David-and-Goliath struggle against a first-world military machine. The film delves deep into the heart of a global movement that, despite facing 175,000 federal troops, refuses to yield. The narrative of "Zapatista" transcends the borders of Chiapas, leaving an indelible impact on Mexican culture and reshaping the landscape of international political culture forever. This is not just the story of an uprising. This is the testament of the human spirit, a fight for justice that echoes through the annals of time.

Zapatista is a documentary movie featuring Edward James Olmos and directed by Rick Rowley.

Zapatista is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy Zapatista on Amazon Video and FlixFling.