Duel with the Devil

Duel with the Devil is a documentary that takes viewers to the streets of Guatemala City, where on a "bad day" 15 can be murdered. The threat of violence is ever present. It takes place in many forms: theft, assault, rape, gang violence, drug trafficking and kidnapping. No one is immune, from poor to the rich, from bus drivers to judges.

The justice system in Guatemala tries to deal with these crimes. However, stemming the tide of criminal behaviour and violence has been difficult for a justice system which is trying to establish itself in a country marred by 36 years of internal conflict and violence.

Duel with the Devil is a story of a Canadian-supported project aimed at helping the Guatemalan justice system become more effective at doing its job, while restoring the faith that citizens should have in this system. British Columbian crime scene investigators volunteered to train their Guatemalan counterparts to properly manage crime scenes and to gather and analyze crime scene evidence.

Purchase Duel with the Devil
Get it on DVD: $20 Order this publication
DVD and Study Guide: $25 Order this publication

Study Guide

The film's Study Guide includes two DVD’s - the full 52-minute documentary and a second DVD which includes a PDF of the guide and clips from the film that can be used with each lesson to highlight issues. Using the Guide's background information, activities, student handouts as well as references and handouts, teachers, instructors and professors can lead discussions regarding the issues raised in It’s Time. Upon completion of the lessons, students will be able to:

  • Explain the types of challenges that the justice system has in a country like Guatemala
  • Explain what criminal gangs are and how they can destabilize a country if there are not effective controls
  • Explain the factors that are needed to have an effective justice system

The Study Guide includes six lessons and a section with resources. Each lesson can be used on its own depending on the interest of the group. There are also suggestions for research topics and additional learning activities for some lessons.

We anticipate that this guide will be useful within the high school and university settings in any courses that address social responsibility, including the following:

  • BC High School Curriculum
    • Law 12
    • Social Justice 12
    • Comparative Civilisations 12
    • Communications 11 & 12
    • Civics 11
    • Health and Career Education 9 (healthy relationships)
  • Ontario High School Curriculum
    • Canadian and International Law 12
    • Leadership and Peer Support 11
    • Individual and Families in a Diverse Society 12
    • Family Studies 11 & 12
    • Post Secondary
    • Africa studies
    • Police academics
    • Professional teacher in service trainings
    • Women’s studies
    • Anthropology
    • Social work
    • Criminology
    • International relations
    • Law

High school courses in which this course will be useful outside of BC and Ontario will be those similar to the courses listed above. Teachers are encouraged to consult their provincial curricula.