A Bold Peace

Gr 9 Up—Directors Matthew Eddy and Michael Dreiling create a fascinating look at Costa Rica and how it managed to avoid the fate of falling to totalitarian governments while improving the quality of life for its citizens. The country has survived without an army since 1948 and has used the money saved from military spending for education and social welfare programs. Included are fascinating interviews with former president José Figueres Ferrer and his daughter, Christiana Figueres, a diplomat. Ferrer is compared to Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi. The directors analyze how Costa Rican leaders managed to stand up to the United States and remain neutral in spite of pressure from President Reagan to use Costa Rica as a military base against Nicaragua. The combination of historical footage and interviews with former presidents, scholars, journalists, and citizens keep the documentary fast-paced and stimulating while providing an upbeat perspective of the war-torn region.