Andalusia & Mardrid – Solidarity is a theme based documentary directed by Dr Louis Lam, a medical expeditionist and cultural anthropologist who travels all over the world to tell inspirational stories about the local people and culture, their views about themselves versus the world, and current issues that reflect much wider influences. The film is about the Andalusian culture of art, music, food and wine through the beauty of Andalusia and its people on their sense of solidarity. It takes the audience through several towns in the south with the ending in Madrid. It follows the local footsteps of Macarena Cisneros and her family in the city of Seville. It takes us to the grandiosity of the Islamic influenced mudejar mosaic architecture as in the Hotel Alfonso XIII and the Plaza Espana. In the streets, the film shows tremendous solidarity among people in frequent protests and demonstrations, even among school children as they were filmed protesting against the Putin war on Ukraine. A religious solidarity is reflected in the possession of Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross, through the actual path of Seville during the Holy Week. It visits the oldest restaurant there, El Rinconcillo, who serves typical tapas of small clams, baby soles, and Iberian pig cheeks. It talks about the big pork tradition in Spain in general and the artisan skill of curing ham and the street food of Freiduria specializing in fried seafood. The film then follows another Andalusian local, Juan Diaz, who takes us through the small medieval town of Carmona where they serve their own version of paella and oxtail stew. It takes us to the grand tradition of Flamenco dance and music at a private studio and the bullfighter’s tavern, Sol y Sombra, with their fried nettles and pork loins. Further afield, Juan takes the trip to the orange farms and the old town of Cordova, passing the stunning hilltop castle of Almodovar del Rio. It shows a special dinner at Casa Pepe de la Juderia with its famous deboned pig’s trotter. The film finally takes us back to Madrid as the final destination to show the ham museum and the oldest restaurant of the world, Casa Botin, who serves their irresistible roasted suckling pig. It talks about the nonstop festivals in Spain, like the Burial of the Sardine.

 

Filmed March, 2022.

“It won a Best Documentary Short award at the American Golden Picture International Film Festival (AGPIFF), 6th year, 1st edition, July 2024.”

 

"Its emphasis on solidarity encourages the viewer to consider cooperation and mutual support as universal human experiences.”

 

“A humanistic cultural documentary whose principal strength lies in connecting place, people, and the idea of solidarity."