User Reviews

Las Sandanistas was warmly received in its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It is a provocative film on an unexpected subject. It tells the untold stories of the women revolutionaries within the Nicaraguan Sandanista movement in the 1970s. They fought both the corrupt Somoza regime and the patriarchy from within their own movement. The theme is not new; it is not at all unusual for anti-racist and revolutionary movements to also be dominated by men and to function highly patriarchally. The women's stories are powerful - told mostly through interviews - and insightful. Sadly, it appears that Nicaragua - even under the Sandanistas - remains highly oppressive to women today, especially in the area of abortion rights. The film is fascinating and well-edited with a combination of modern and archival footage. Highly recommended for those interested in truly understanding the complexity of social change.

This documentary chronicles the Nicaraguan revolution through photographs, footage and interviews with some of the leading female figures in the Sandinista-led overthrow of the Somoza regime. It is an excellent portrayal of the women who struggled hard for social gains in a society ravaged by dictatorship, earthquake, and a long, US-backed Contra war. It takes us up to date with the frustration of Daniel Ortega's retrograde policies regarding women's rights in Nicaragua's today.

Las Sandinistas! was a great documentary and showed a lot of information about the women´s movements in Nicaragua and their contribution in the revolution. I really liked the facts about sexism within the revolution itself and how women even when they were in the same fight as men were prisioners of gender roles.

But as a nicaraguan myself I know that they are other women with amazing contribution to the revolution that werent showed in the documentary, some of them today are still with the FSLN and are pro goverment but still their contribution to the revolution and society in the past and nowadays requires a little bit of recognition.

Still the documentary was great and it truly makes me proud as a nicaraguan woman to see this kind of films.

I was inspired by the idealism and selfless dedication of these unsung heroes. I would never have known about this aspect of the history of the Sandinistas had I not seen this documentary.

I watched Las Sandinistas as a student at The University of Tampa. I was lucky enough to participate in a Q&A with the films director Jenny. The lengths that Jenny went to reveal the truths of Nicaragua's women revolutionaries was almost as inspiring as what Nicaragua's women revolutionaries did for their own country. The film was emotional and brought me and many other audience members to tears. I will be telling as many people as possible about this unique war documentary.

¡Las Sandinistas! is a very enlightening documentary that shows the effort of a few rebels who were willing to give up significant portions of their lives for a better country and better world for their demographic. The focus is primarily on the female combatants of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), their side of the history that they were excluded from, and what became of them after. The documentary is in the style of a collection of interconnected interviews with footage from the events to help the audience feel like they were there (think: Spike Lee's "When the Levees Fell" documentary). Though they aren't interviewing to tell a sob story, let's just say life's not fair.

I've never heard about the Nicaraguan Revolution, so this was fascinating to watch. I hope the producers/director manage to get it shown in schools and universities.

Side Note: If you've ever seen Dr Robert's Beckford's "Blood And Fire" documentary on "Jamaica's struggle for independence and political autonomy," then you won't be surprised by what happens during the second act. Speaking of which, a certain someone makes a surprising appearance. You'll probably recognize the voice, you might not believe it when they say who it is, but once his face was shown... the audience clapped.

An engaging and excellent film, start to finish. Las Sandinistas deftly balances telling a chronological narrative and focusing on the lives and stories of individuals involved. This is one of those films where it's unbelievable that the director found so many charismatic subjects. These women are truly awe-inspiring and it was a treat to hear them tell their own stories. I teach modern world history at the high school level and have used this film in the classroom; my students were inspired to learn about this part of Nicaragua's history and also excited to see a spotlight shone on the contributions of women to a major movement.

Beautiful depiction of the 1979's Nicaraguan Sandinista Revolution, told through the lens of the unsung heroes - the female guerreras -- who were not only fighters but political visionaries and leaders. The strength, power and bravery of these women depicted in the film was awe-inspiring. The film tackles intersectionality of sexism, classism, totalitarianism and colonialism. It was also incredibly relevant to our current political climate and should be required viewing for all.

Las Sandinistas! (2018)

This movie works for the first 75 minutes. It's a solid documentary about the great role that women played in the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua.

Sadly, the remainder of the film is propaganda for the Nicaraguan rightwing movement called the MRS. The MRS did, indeed, begin as a group that was going to push the Sandinistas from the left. As a political party, they never gained any traction. The highest percentage of votes they ever achieved was 5 percent.

Now, the MRS has allied itself with rightwing parties in Nicaragua, and with the U.S. right wing. They are counter-revolutionaries.

According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2017, Nicaragua is the highest ranked country in Latin America in terms of gender equality with sixth highest rank in the world. The UK is in 15th position. Countries are ranked according to economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment.

In Nicaragua, 46% of MPs are women. Nicaragua achieved gender parity in ministerial posts. The facts are that women are not excluded from the political process in Nicaragua.

Please note that no prominent pro-government Nicaraguan woman appears in the film. We get long interviews with MRS leaders, most of whom are highly educated, highly cultured, and highly respected in the U.S. They are like us, and we want to believe them.

Remember that in 2016, the Sandinista party won 72% of the vote. That's because the Sandinistas aren't the party of the intellectual elite. While clever and talented, the Sandinista women don't teach poetry at San Francisco State, they don't direct films, and they aren't brilliant novelists.

They are urban and rural workers, who know that the Sandinista government will give them access to health care, education, economic assistance, and an opportunity to hold public office.

My name appears at the end of the film as a GoFundMe donor. I regret that donation now. I thought the movie would pay tribute to the heroic women of the Sandinista revolution. It does, indeed, do this. However, the tribute was clearly meant as a way to lead up to the criticism of the present Sandinista government. I should have known better.

A powerful story of the female heroine's that fought for justice, freedom and equality in Nicaragua. Beautifully told, visceral and absolutely necessary and relevant for our generation. Their fight continues today and they have a legacy that will live on forever. My mother was one of those heroine's and the revolution continues within me.

Las Sandinistas is an important contribution to telling a not so prominent part of Nicaraguan Revolutionary History: the participation of women* in the revolution and their later struggles within the FSLN. The accounts of former guerilleras from different social backgrounds are important voices that have to be heard-especially in the current political climate in Nicaragua which is working hard to eradicate oppostionary view points. The stories of their struggle are truly inspiring, especially the original footage from the 1970s and 80s makes it even more tangible. Excellent documentary and must see for anyone interested in the relation between left-wing revolutionary movements and feminism.

I came across the trailer for Las Sandinistas a few years back after I heard about these revolutionary women in a class and was searching for more information wherever I could find it. The movie was not out for viewing at the time but the trailer really stuck in my brain. Last year I finally got a chance to watch Las Sandinistas and since then it has once again become ... stuck in my brain.

As it tells the incredible story of the female leaders of the Nicaraguan Revolution, this documentary not only recounts the experiences of these powerful women, but conveys through the screen their revolutionary spirit. The lives of these women are themselves astounding, and that alone could make the documentary ands its story better than any fiction. However, combined with expert filmmaking, Las Sandinistas has the power to capture you with the spirit of the Sandinistas. The music, the editing, and the incredible storytelling come together to revive the revolutionary 70/80s through the eyes of these women.

Of course, the documentary also speaks to the modern day and the sad fate of Nicaragua. It shows these how these powerful women continue to resist in the modern day, and gives the chilling reminder that in many ways their struggles continue (in a large part thanks to the United States).

In every sense, as it recounts important and haunting history, tells an incredible human story, and revives an (arguably) lost revolutionary spirit, Las Sandinistas will make you want to raise as fist.

The director offers an incredibly powerful look at the unsung heroes of the Nicaraguan Revolution. Female freedoms fighters fought (and died) to reform their country. Las Sandinistas was an excellent film that should be taught in Latin American history classes throughout the US. Director Jenny Murray has ensured that the brilliant women of Nicaragua will never be forgotten.

This film is propaganda, pretending to be documentary. It's OK at first, but ultimately it perpetuates the myth that the democratically elected government of Nicaragua is a dictatorship.

It's simply not true. The people behind the movie--mostly members of the former MRS party--never got more than 5% of the vote. In 2021, the Sandinistas will win the free and open election.

What we see here is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Beware!

This documentary tells the story of the ignorant women who joined the Sandinistas. They learned how to murder and kidnap but never had a clue as to how create a good society. Now they have delivered their country into the hands of Daniel Ortega. If only they could learn from their stupidity. Instead they wallow in what Dora Maria Tellez calls "the erasure of memory". But they could learn from their past they could overcome their ignorance... but that looks sadly unlikely.

This documentary tells the story of the ignorant women who joined the Sandinistas. They learned how to murder and kidnap but never had a clue as to how create a good society. Now they have delivered their country into the hands of Daniel Ortega. If only they could learn from their stupidity. Instead they wallow in what Dora Maria Tellez calls "the erasure of memory". But they could learn from their past they could overcome their ignorance... but that looks sadly unlikely. This documentary tells the story of the ignorant women who joined the Sandinistas. They learned how to murder and kidnap but never had a clue as to how create a good society. Now they have delivered their country into the hands of Daniel Ortega. If only they could learn from their stupidity. Instead they wallow in what Dora Maria Tellez calls "the erasure of memory". But they could learn from their past they could overcome their ignorance... but that looks sadly unlikely.

This movie, while in a technical respect probably somewhat less than perfect, still succeeds in shedding new light on the contribution of the leading female characters or, if you will, the secret female leaders of the Nicaraguan Revolution.

I believe it does also a tremendous job in exposing the cheapness of a common argument according to which most decidedly socialist movemens in Latin America and elsewhere in the world are ultimately no better than there authoritarian predecessors. For the picture makes a strong case for the view that in Nicaragua the revolution ended up being hijacked by the wrong (Ortega's) people, whereas at the grassroots there was and still is and active strive for both general welfare AND equal civil & political rights. This is important, since historically speaking the latter have too often been fatally disregarded by socialist-reformist movements.