Private Project

The Darkness: Lessons on Solar Energy, Community, and Power.

"The Darkness" is an ethnographic documentary that captures the resilience of the 'Altos de Cuba' community in Puerto Rico as they confront disaster and darkness. Partnering with the grassroots organization 'Casa Pueblo,' they harness solar energy to restore power, protect their health, and reclaim their well-being. Through their journey, the community offers five powerful lessons on building a just and sustainable future. The film highlights their fight against governmental neglect and the privatization of Puerto Rico’s power grid, showing how collective action can ignite hope, power, and change in the face of crisis. Is this just about solar power, or is there more at hand?

  • Nelson Varas Díaz
    Director
  • Sheilla R. Madera
    Producer
  • Mark Padilla
    Producer
  • Daniel Nevárez Araújo
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    La Oscuridad: Lecciones sobre energía solar, comunidad y poder.
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Puerto Rico, United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Puerto Rico
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Nelson Varas Díaz
Distribution Information
  • Nelson Varas Díaz
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Nelson Varas Díaz

Dr. Nelson Varas-Díaz is a professor of social-community psychology at Florida International University’s Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies. He directed the award winning documentaries "Collapse," "The Ear," and "The Bee." Together, his films have garnered more than 100 sets of laurels in international film festivals.

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