Under a Foreign Rain - Conversation with Marta Hincapié

The Colombian director Marta Hincapié has released the documentary “Under a Foreign Rain”, a look into a private archive filmed at the start of this century. It unveils a series of video letters—unusual for the time—created by immigrants and sent to their families by Hincapié. These messages reveal the past and present experiences of migrants in foreign lands, intertwining with two other migrant stories: her grandfather’s and that of a young man symbolizing those who never reach their destination.

With these three forms of migration, the director offers reflections on a phenomenon that strips individuals of their land, identity, and sense of belonging. This experience transcends tangible elements and is intertwined with the intangible: the rain, the air, the scent of an unfamiliar place.

These correspondences, filmed only a couple of decades ago, highlight the significant technological leap humanity has made in terms of interaction. This change prompts reflections on the quality of today’s communication in an interconnected world, offering a sense of nostalgia. Additionally, the film invites viewers to consider the role of image observation within cinema itself.

Five Key Points from the Conversation:

On the Film’s Purpose

“I wanted to create a (im)possible conversation among three migrations: one being my grandfather’s, who leaves and can return; another being the video letters—those who leave without certainty of return, which is the most painful of all, almost an exile; and the other being those who leave and never arrive, like the thousands buried beneath the Mediterranean, along riverbanks, or, in our case, in the Darién Gap’s jungle or deserts. For me, it was essential for these letters to converse with this other migration.”

Her Grandfather’s Migration and Inspiration from Ousman Umar (Founder of NASCO Feeding Minds)

“In the 1920s, my grandfather sent a series of postcards from Barcelona, where he was studying medicine. I began looking at those albums because I became intrigued by the imagery, the distance, and Europe’s idealized image. In contrast, a young Ghanaian’s vision who doesn’t reach Europe was deeply impactful. I sought permission to be inspired by his story—not by his journey, but by his vision of what he expected to find. In the film, he dies, though in reality, he didn’t, yet he thought it was beautiful that his voice represented all those who never made it.”

The Purpose of the Video Letters

“I had both an emotional and work-related connection to a small Spanish town known for its many immigrants, working in fur and pig slaughterhouses. After 9/11, I began recording video letters, as we could only communicate with loved ones through small telephone booths. Families couldn’t see us, only hear our voices, so we recorded video letters from all over the world and sent them as VHS tapes—a truly moving experience.”

The Pandemic Gave Shape to the Film

“The pandemic, like 9/11, marks a pivotal time. It prompted me to revisit and rethink footage that was never intended as a film. I looked through an old box of tapes… and realized that life moments are often connected to the unconscious, bringing things back to the present and giving us enough distance to view them objectively. I could now look at them with fresh eyes, as a different woman and filmmaker, no longer an immigrant.”

A Hopeful Outlook through Najat El Hachmi’s Story

“We could call it hope, embodied in the first letter by Najat El Hachmi, a Moroccan who became one of the most prominent Catalan-language writers. For me, it was crucial to depict this hero’s journey—a profound rather than epic transformation—that ultimately becomes important for herself and her culture.”

“Under a Foreign Rain” will be part of the International Documentary Showcase of Bogotá (MIDBO), running from today until November 4. The feature film will compete nationally and screen on November 1 at Bogotá’s Cinemateca.

Watch the full conversation below:

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