Labyrinth of Truth (Film Review)

Note: This is a documentary film, not a major motion picture.

Labyrinth of Truth ; c2001 ; 59 minutes ; in Spanish, with English subtitles ; directed by Nitza Kakoseos. A Nicaraguan “refugee” returns home to examine the wounds and healing of her country, and her family.

Pre-1980, Sofia Montenegro was living with her family in Nicaragua. In 1979 Anastacio Somoza’s dictatorship came crashing down, as he was overthrown by the Sandinistas. Montenegro’s father was a senior military officer in Somoza’s Guard. She and her family eventually fled to the U.S., as her father was arrested, perhaps tortured, and eventually killed.

This film follows Montenegro back to Nicaragua, 20 years later, as she tries to uncover details regarding her father, as well as to contact her aunt who later joined the FSLN, and eventually became a senior official in the later Sandinista government.

There are several films of people going back to Nicaragua, in search of many things. Most are more propaganda than history, or even autobiography. This films stands out among the others, partly as the woman in the center has family on both sides.