In the early 1990s, as a consequence of Peru’s hard economic situation, destabilizing activities of the government and the political terror of the Shining Path (a communist group in Peru), many middle class workers (including teachers, clerks, actors and policemen) turned their own cars into taxis. In this way, they wanted to earn some extra money and survive the economic crisis. Metal and Melancholy is a lively story of how the economic situation affects the human condition. The director depicts its wide spectrum – from happiness and beauty to sadness and melancholy.
The film Metal and Melancholy was chosen by Amapola Prada.
HEDDY HONIGMAN was born in 1951 in Lima, and has been living in the Netherlands for many years. She makes feature, documentary, television and short films. Often compared to Agnès Vardy, she usually stays in the background, asks questions and lets her characters speak. Just like the French director, Heddy Honigman has a gift for showing moving and surprising stories. She is not concerned with social or political context, but with the individual dimension of human life.