There are journeys that begin with a question you can’t quite shake. In Urpi: Her Last Wish, filmmaker Sisa Quispe takes us to the Peruvian Andes on a personal search for identity, family, and the pieces of ourselves that history sometimes leaves behind.
Finding a Way Back
Quispe writes, directs, and stars as Urpi, a young woman traveling to the Sacred Valley of the Incas to reconnect with her Indigenous roots. Along the way, she meets Sayri (Juan Abel Ojeda Llanos), a Quechua man who helps her navigate unfamiliar places and traditions. Urpi speaks Spanish, but Quechua remains beyond her reach. That language barrier becomes part of her journey, reminding her that connecting with a culture takes more than knowing its words.
The story hits close to home for Quispe. After losing her grandmother, she realized how little she knew about her family’s origins. Her grandmother had begun sharing memories of her Aymara heritage shortly before she died. Quispe’s trip to Peru to find her grandmother’s hometown became the starting point for the film.
That personal connection gives Urpi its heart. This isn’t just a story about discovering your roots. It’s also about grief, missed conversations, and the things we wish we’d asked while we still had the chance.
Telling Their Own Stories
Quispe wanted the film to be made with Indigenous communities, not simply about them. She brought Quechua performers and crew members into the production, filmed in real Andean locations, and placed the Quechua language at the center of the experience.
Vibrant colours, beautiful landscapes, and an uplifting soundtrack give the film a warm, inviting feel. Beneath that beauty, though, there’s a clear message. Quispe challenges the labels imposed on Indigenous people by governments and institutions, making space for her community to tell its own stories.
A winner of The Gotham’s Student Short Film Showcase, Urpi: Her Last Wish is both a personal tribute and a call for representation. You don’t need to share Urpi’s background to understand the longing at the centre of her journey. Sometimes, finding out where you come from is the first step toward figuring out where you’re going.
