Filmed over three years, WINDS OF MEMORY reveals Mayan life and culture in Guatemala today, five centuries after the "discovery" of America.

The Tzutuhil Indians of Santiago Atitlan, a lakeshore village among volcanoes, seek to regain their lost world. Overrun by tourists by day, haunted by death squads at night, the natives reveal the disjunction of their current lives: they exorcise death by exposing mass graves, practice a religion where ancient gods reappear as Christian saints, and daily suffer the racism and repression shown by the descendants of the conquerors.

As natives defy their repressors in order to practice Mayan rites, interviews with General Benedito Lucas Garcia, former Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and the Bishop of Santa Cruz de Quiche reveal the harsh repercussions of Columbus' voyage which are still felt by Mayans today.

"This intimate documentary feelingly tracks the struggle of the indigenous peoples... a compelling tribute to the stalwart native resistance movement."—Booklist

"A sobering documentary... appropriate for college or university video collections, WINDS OF MEMORY brings the abuse of human rights into sharp relief."—Video Rating Guide for Libraries