José L. Ortiz

A documentary about the inner, unknown world of the brotherhoods, a universe of its own with its own laws, rules, and philosophy far removed from religion, which were (and in many ways still are) foreign to most people, especially the non-Andalusian majority in Spain. It is the only audiovisual document that captures the pivotal moment for the "people at the bottom" when professional bearers (dockworkers, day laborers, and various other wage earners) are being "pushed out" of the brotherhoods and replaced by fellow bearers. From an anthropological perspective, "Costaleros" projects peculiarities of Andalusian culture that are often misinterpreted and misunderstood from the outside.

This short documentary, with its aim of exposing the festival from the perspective of Andalusian culture and anthropology, delves into the complexities of this celebration. Understanding how difficult it is for outsiders to grasp that a saint could be a member of the UGT (General Union of Workers) during the Civil War and possess a membership card, we gradually decipher the festival while simultaneously revealing features common to many other celebrations deeply rooted in the culture and popular religiosity of the Andalusian people, such as the presence of a communist mayor presiding over the saint's procession and offering cheers.