Synopsis
It is the end of a long journey. Nicaragua, 1984: Elisabeth Zilz originally from Germany decides to stay in Nicaragua to start a new life amidst the turmoil of the US-financed Contra War. The alphabetisation of the country, the dream of all Sandinistas, has become her personal goal. The retired librarian from Frankfurt on the Main turns an old East German Robur transporter into the rolling library she christens ‘Bertholt Brecht’. She tirelessly travels through Nicaragua’s poorest regions, supported by Ernesto Cardenal, the minister of education at the time, and by a like-minded and solidly united group of East and West Germans. With an unbroken will, she tries to instil a love for books in remote village schoolhouses and prisons. Today she is a folk hero. Filmed shortly before Elisabeth Zilz’ death the documentary tells the story of an unusual friendship through the eyes of Reybil Curasema, her trusty driver since 1984. Reybil follows her path through the country of a thousand volcanoes and takes a reminiscing look at the people they were on the road for for a quarter of a century. A documentary road movie far away from the tarred tracks of Nicaragua. A homage to a woman and her life’s work.At the age of 89 Elizabeth Zilz died in Frankfurt on the Main shortly after the shooting of this film.
