A Visual Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ciudad Juarez

An old city sees new life...

Ciudad Juárez photo courtesy: Radio Netherlands

(LAS CRUCES, NM) - In recent pieces, FNS has mentioned the revitalization project that is underway in the historic downtown of Ciudad Juarez. The state-city plan moves forward, with workmen now engaged in constructing a controversial train tunnel/underpass. Long-time border activist and independent filmmaker Richard Boren has captured images of a changing downtown and some of the people who are struggling to maintain a local character in the heart and soul of Ciudad Juarez.

Interested readers can check out scenes from contemporary Ciudad Juarez by viewing a video produced by Boren that’s now posted on YouTube. The link is provided below.

On a recent visit, Boren’s camera captured musicians at La Nueva Central, a popular diner and community hangout that is resisting demolition; an Aztec dancer in the historic Plaza de Armas across from the Cathedral, where a small monument to the murdered women of Juarez stands amid the constant din of passing buses, fluttering pigeons and incessant preachers; the razed lots of the old Mariscal red-light district; the grit and glory of the old tourist strip of Avenida Juarez; and other landmarks. The short video is subtitled in Spanish. In an e-mail to FNS, Boren said he hoped to have an English-subtitled version of the piece up sometime in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/user/rborenigcorg?feature=em-share_video_user

Frontera NorteSur: on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico