What Remains is an innovative graphic novel that weaves documentary
and memoir forms to capture the sociopolitical fabric of Colombia,
spanning 200 years. Camilo Aguirre dips in and out of pivotal historical
periods, all while skillfully interweaving family histories and
anecdotes of students, union workers, and guerilla fighters. He creates
a critical, unflinching vision of Colombia that is profoundly mobilizing
in its search for resolution. Aguirre is hopeful throughout, but he
refuses to step into the trap of fictitious optimism. The people and the
families represent a detailed composite portrait of life in Colombia,
sketched from opposing ends of the political spectrum. Colombia is
inextricable from its people's complex lives and identities, as well as
the lives of Aguirre and his family. Aguirre narrates the complexities
from a distant Minneapolis. He details the tides of power and politics,
from American and corporate interventions to internal hierarchies of
wealth and power, and finally to the impact of emerging globalization
and neoliberalism. The criminalization and persecution of union workers
and students propagate amidst these political phases. What Remains
poses a question. Aguirre answers through a profoundly personal lens and
demonstrates that what remains of Colombia are the rich and varied lives
of its people.
