The house poster

The house

On the outskirts of Bogotá, a family survives by recycling the city's waste and raising animals. They dream of a home with running water and electricity, but family disputes threaten their only chance at progress.

10.0(1)20091h 10m0

The Mendez family has been living on occupied land in the hills outside Bogotá for 40 years, where they can be legally evicted at any time. Every day they walk down to the city to collect scrap materials to sell, and leftovers from restaurants to feed their pigs. Victor has been married to Marta for 10 years, but his mother, Elvira, has never approved of her. The conflict between these two women forces Victor to take sides, coming in the way of their efforts to earn a living. The threats that a neighbor makes to Victor give Elvira another reason to blame Marta for all of the family’s problems, but Sandra, their youngest daughter, will provide another chance to unite the family. Dignity and courage combine in a story about the impossibility of progress and the persistence of dreams for this family of scrap merchants.

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Status
Released
Budget
$15K
Box office
—
Language
Spanish
  • recycling
  • human rights
  • family conflict
  • eviction
  • dignity
  • bogota, colombia
  • scrap merchant
  • daily survival
  • occupied land

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Tayo Cortés

Videos

No extra videos are listed for this title yet.

Release dates

  • BrazilBR

    • PremiereIt's All True18 Apr 2010
  • ColombiaCO

    • PremiereMuestra Internacional Documental de Bogotá30 Sept 2009
    • Theatrical (limited)Bogotá International Film Festival6 Oct 2009
    • PremiereDocs Barcelona and Medellín17 Oct 2013
  • CyprusCY

    • PremiereNicosia International Documentary Film Festival26 Mar 2010
  • EcuadorEC

    • PremiereEDOC17 May 2010
  • GermanyDE

    • PremiereLeipzig Film Festival Germany29 Oct 2009
    • PremiereCine Latino Tübingen18 Apr 2010
    • PremiereDOK.Fest München6 May 2010
  • GreeceGR

    • PremiereThessaloniki Documentary Festival 16 Mar 2010
  • HungaryHU

    • PremiereVerzio Film Festival4 Nov 2010
  • IcelandIS

    • PremiereReykjavik International Film Festival27 Sept 2010
  • New CaledoniaNC

    • PremiereFestival International du Cinema deus peuples2 Nov 2010
  • PolandPL

    • PremiereKrawok Film Festival4 Jun 2010
  • SpainES

    • PremiereDocs Barcelona5 Feb 2010

Frequently asked questions

The house was released on 6 October 2009.

Audience reviews

1
  • D

    domo.devenirfilms

    10/29/2026

    10/10

    La Casa by Tayo Cortes Victor Mendez has lived with his mother on the outskirts of the Columbian capital of Bogotá for 40 years, in the middle of the forest but on illegal ground, in a makeshift wooden cabin. They could be driven out any time. Ever since his new wife, of whom his mother disapprovers strongly, has moven in, quarrels have dominated their daily life. It is strenuous making a living collecting garbage…

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