Birds of Passage (Pájaros de Verano) is a film by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra. It is set on the La Guajira peninsula and tells the story of the so-called "Bonanza Marimbera" — a period during the 1960s and 1970s when marijuana trafficking was booming in Colombia. The film shows the involvement of the Wayuu indigenous in this trade. The dialogue is almost entirely in Wayuunaiki, the language of the Wayuu.
La Guajira and Smuggling
The Guajira peninsula is a geographically isolated place, yet it has always been a gateway to the Caribbean Sea. During colonial times, the Wayuu used trade with English, Dutch, and French colonists to acquire weapons for their fight against the Spaniards and defend their independence.
Until today, the department of La Guajira is a place where smuggling is partially tolerated by the Colombian government, and laws are not applied as strictly as in other parts of Colombia. Throughout history, the Wayuu have been opportunistic — when a business opportunity arises, they take it.
The Film
Birds of Passage was the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Ciro Guerra also made Embrace of the Serpent, a film about a different indigenous tribe in Colombia. Both films explore the collision between indigenous worlds and outside forces.
If you want to understand the Wayuu before visiting La Guajira — or before reading Candelier's 1893 account — Birds of Passage is the best place to start. It is available on Netflix and major streaming platforms.