The Vampires of Poverty

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The Vampires of Poverty (originally titled Agarrando Pueblo, meaning Grasping the People) is a 1977 Colombian mockumentary directed by Luis Ospina and Carlos Mayolo. Made for a German TV channel, it follows filmmakers who travel to Cali to make a film about poverty in Latin America. The film shows the crew pushing cameras into the faces of the homeless, paying children to strip in a dirty fountain, stalking a mentally ill woman, and rehearsing scenes with actors. A homeless man interrupts the shoot, calling them “bloodsucking vampires” and criticizing the exploitation; he is later interviewed and says his favorite part is the satire, even boasting about being naked and wiping himself with minted money. The piece critiques “misery porn” (pornomiseria), the notion of turning poverty into a spectacle and using sociology as cover for exploitation. It alternates between black-and-white behind-the-scenes footage and color scenes of the supposed documentary and runs 28 minutes, having received recognition at film festivals.