LOS PASTORES: The Shepherd's Play

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Portrays the revival of Los Pastores (The Shepherd's Play), an ancient Christmas morality play that has long been part of Hispanic folk traditions in the American Southwest. Originally brought to the New World by the Spanish conquistadores and Catholic missionaries, Los Pastores evolved from a strict liturgical drama whose purpose was to teach morality to the indigenous Indian population into a sometimes bawdy and comedic folk play that went out of favor in the twentieth century. The video shows the reenactment of the play by the Sangre de Cristos Liturgies Theater Company at a small church in New Mexico. It features scenes of the play, interviews with local townspeople, plus archival photos and readings of letters from settlers who documented performances of the play at the turn of the century.

Religion & Spirituality  Performing Arts  Latino Studies  Cultural Studies  Directed by Women