The Empty Sign

Filmmaker and anthropologist Kathryn Ramey weaves century-old archival footage with modern portraits of artists and activists, crafting a layered exploration of America’s occupation of Puerto Rico. Blending tourism reels, agrarian shorts, and propaganda films, Ramey delves into the myths of “democracy” and “debt,” exposing them as veils for capitalist and military dominance. With an ethnographic lens, the film unearths the intricate narratives that continue to shape Puerto Rico’s complex relationship with the United States.