Peruvian film La Teta Asustada (The Milk of Sorrow) won the coveted Golden Bear award for best picture at the Berlin film festival today.
Festival organisers said it was the first Peruvian film to feature in the main competition lineup in Berlin.
The mournful Spanish-Peruvian production revolves around Fausta, the product of a rape inflicted on her mother during the wave of violence in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s.
After her mother's death, Fausta, played by Magaly Solier, is determined to give her a decent burial in her native village, but to do so must confront the fears that have crushed her throughout her life.
"This is for Peru. This is for our country," Peruvian-born director Claudia Llosa told the awards ceremony.
The Silver Bear jury grand prix award, effectively the runner-up prize, was shared between Uruguayan drama Giganteand German entry Alle Anderen(Everyone Else).
The best director went to Iran's Asghar Farhadi for Darbareye Elly (About Elly ), best actress was won by Alle Anderenlead Birgit Minichmayr from Austria and best actor was awarded to Malian Sotigui Kouyate for London River.
Reuters