Orlando Museum of Art to Screen Mama Irene: Healer of the Andes

A story of woman empowerment and a testament to living harmoniously with Mother Earth

Orlando – January 25, 2023 — The Orlando Museum of Art is proud to present a free screening of the film Mama Irene: Healer of the Andes. This film is about a remarkable 84-year-old woman Shaman (healer) from Peru, drawing upon indigenous knowledge and traditions in danger of being lost forever. Not only does the film document endangered wisdom, but it is also a story of woman empowerment and a testament to living harmoniously with Mother Earth. 

“Mama Irene is a true mystic – she turns to Pachamama and the mountain spirits in her prayers, in her pilgrimages…I happily participated from afar in [this] film project,” says co-director Bettina Ehrhardt “…Our goal was to present Mama Irene’s story to a wider audience, thus paying homage to the thousands of years old Incan traditions.”

As the film unfolds, we learn about Mama Irene’s journey. She discovered her healing gift by chance at three years old, when she intuitively healed a neighbor’s migraines. She became known in the village as El doctor pequeño – the little doctor. Sold by her father into slavery, beaten by her husband, and mother to 15 children, eight of whom died, she never wavered in pursuing her craft and continues to grow and inspire around the world.

Co-director Elisabeth Möhlmann describes her experience with Mama Irene as “transformative.” “I had the privilege of witnessing her selflessly healing patients with extraordinary wisdom, love, and compassion…With her blessing, I decided to make this documentary to share the story of this remarkable woman and her knowledge and wisdom.”

Associate Curator for Adult Programs and Outreach, Colleen O’Neill, comments, “Mama Irene encourages women to build healthy boundaries and participate in self-love. In this one-of-a-kind documentary, we witness ancient ancestral practices done in modern times, bringing us a taste of what the ancient Americas were like before colonization.”

Mama Irene: Healer of the Andes will be shown for free on Sunday, January 29, at 1:30 p.m. with a group discussion following the film. This film is not suitable for viewers under the age of eighteen. For event information, museum hours, and admission information, visit https://omart.org/visit/tickets/.

Contact Maureen Walsh, Marketing and Communications Manager, for more information and press photos. Email mwalsh@omart.org or call 407-896-4231 ext. 233.

About the Orlando Museum of Art

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is a regional asset, a member organization of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), Blue Star Museum, and a catalyst for life-long learning in service to the central Florida community and visitors from around the globe.
 
The Orlando Museum of Art’s mission is to inspire creativity, passion, and intellectual curiosity by connecting people with art and new ideas. Our vision is to be a creative change agent for education, the center for artistic engage a place for civic, cultural, and economic development. For more information, please visit www.omart.org.