Landfall Discussion Guide

Through shard-like glimpses of everyday life in post-Hurricane María Puerto Rico, Landfall is a cautionary tale for our times. Set against the backdrop of protests that toppled the governor in 2019, the film offers a prismatic portrait of collective trauma and resistance as Puerto Ricans navigate dismantled social services and newcomers eager to profit. A co-production of POV and ITVS, in association with Latino Public Broadcasting. Official Selection, Tribeca Film Festival.

The emotional tenor and structural narrative of Landfall is an act of listening and bearing witness to the unresolved pain of the people of Puerto Rico. An invitation towards remembrance, Landfall makes space for those directly impacted to share their grief, struggles, stories, resistance, and future visions. Following this approach, the Landfall discussion guide aims to support critical dialogues about concepts presented in the film. The guide prompts viewers to grapple with the various threads of Puerto Rico’s colonial and economic history—and present context—that intersect in the aftermath of Hurricane María and the ousting of Governor Ricardo Rossell.

The guide includes reference sections that define useful terms, as well as detail key moments in the history of Puerto Rico that culminated in the debt crisis, hurricane devastation and popular uprisings. The guide offers a series of discussion questions along with customizable activities, adjustable to fit various group settings, designed to lead viewers in personal, creative, research and advocacy exercises and explorations. The guide concludes with further resources for viewers who seek more information and deeper research.

Landfall Film Team