1940s HOME MOVIE TRIP TO GUATEMALA UTATLAN, SAN FRANCISCO EL ALTO MARKET, RIO DULCE 44374

View our Amazon store here: This home movie likely dates to the late 1930s or early 1940s, and takes the viewer on a tour of Guatemala. The footage begins at the grass covered ruins of the once thriving capital of Utatlán (Qʼumarkaj) before transitioning to scenes of village and city life from the San Francisco El Alto Friday Market to San Mateo Ixtatán. The film then goes on to feature shots from the “The Rio Dulce Trip” - a journey by bus, train, and boat beginning at an elevation of 4281 ft and ending at sea level across mountains, swampy lowlands, the Rio Polochic, Lake Izabal, and Rio Dulce. Film opens, text explaining history of Utatlán - once capital of K’iche’ Maya people (0:08). Ruins of Utatlán (0:20). Man and woman stand at ivy covered entrance to ancient passageway leading to Totonicapán (0:31). Local guide holds up human skull dating from time of Pedro de Alvarado’s conquest of Guatemala, when he killed Tecun Uman (0:40). Group of local men and women talking in background at local outdoor market, local crafts being sold (1:15). Clouds settle above volcano Santa Maria just outside Quetzaltenango (1:20). View of Santiaguito (1:39). Life in K’iche’ village Zunil: Women, children gather at water fountain, bamboo stick leads water from fountain into clay jug (2:04). Church bells sway in what was likely former Spanish mission (2:30). View from mountain side of San Cristóbal Totonicapán (2:33). Bustling San Francisco El Alto Friday Market: Path packed to brim with vendors, buyers, and those transporting goods throughout market - various wares for sale i.e. textiles, pottery, produce, livestock; Mixture of more “modern” attire and traditional clothing from different regions of Guatemala (2:41). Zaculeu (or Saqulew) archeological site outside Huehuetenango (4:33). Journey and views of rugged nature up the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes to El Mirador (5:00). Village San Mateo Ixtatán - men ride donkeys through cobblestone street, women hold up fresh produce in baskets (5:23). Bustling San Juan Ostuncalco market - various wares for sale from textiles, pottery, woven baskets (5:50). Examples of traditional winter outfit worn by men: Long black woolen cloak tide by wide red sash “taje” (6:28). European or American looking tourist gentleman holds fresh flowers (6:41). Views of village of San Antonio Sacatepéquez: View of small settlement in valley surrounded by lush green foliage, wild flowers (6:46). Bustling Sunday market at San Pedro Sacatepéquez (“yellow market”): Stunning yellow textiles hang from stalls, women wear yellow traditional “huipil,” other stalls selling fresh flowers, woven baskets (7:01). Municipal swimming pool “Agua Tibia” in San Pedro Sacatepéquez, women wash clothing alongside pool (7:40). Facade of Palacio Maya in San Marcos, government building (8:06). Men walk in zigzag pattern along cobblestone street of carrying large packages on backs (8:16). Scenes from outdoor market in San Martin Chili Verde, examples of traditional clothing from region (8:24). Small village in Chili Verde, men seen wearing traditional costume of white cloth with contrasting red fabric (8:52). “The Rio Dulce Trip” views from along: Women carry gathered sticks, shrubs through streets of village (9:04). Market in village of Tucurú, villagers slowly gather goods and meet in central courtyard surrounding by shelter structures made of wood and dried grass (9:37). Starting point of Verapaz Railroad, steam locomotive pulls into station surrounded by lush green foliage, grass grows along tracks (10:26). POV as group boards boat just after dawn along Polochic River (10:54). Sights and scenes from river journey: River traffic, river reflections, oriole nests, monkeys hanging in trees (11:14). Homes of town of El Estor seen along river bank (12:21). Wild hibiscus flowers (12:50). Views from along Lake Izabal: Local fisherman in kayaks, forest, ruins of El Castillo de San Felipe de Lara (13:05). Beginning of Lake El Golfete/ Golfete Dulce (13:44). Ancient Maya archeological site Quiriguá along shore of Motagua River (14:22). Film ends (14:49). Motion picture films don’t last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we’ve worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you’d like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit