Episode 7 - The Liberator

06/26/23 • 105 min

The Liberator tells the story, in wide strokes, of Simón Bolívar, the military leader, and most important Venezuelan historical figure. In this episode, Gaby and Andreina discuss the 2013 film with the help of a very special guest. Placing the film in the historical and political context in which it was made, we look at the role of historical films in creating a national identity and memory.

Join us as we discuss the relevance of cultural representation on the big screen, the humanisation of a mystified historical figure and the risks of too ambitious screenwriting.

Sources:

The Liberator Interview with actor Edgar Ramirez The Liberator Interview with director Alberto Arvelo (Spanish)
TIFF Interview with director Alberto ArveloGoogle Hangout The Liberator (Spanish)

Join us as we discuss the relevance of cultural representation on the big screen, the humanisation of a mystified historical figure and the risks of too ambitious screenwriting.

Sources:

Previous Episode

Episode 6-Ammonite

In this episode, Andreina and Gabriela discuss the 2020 film Ammonite with a very special guest.
Ammonite tells the story of 19th-century British paleontologist Mary Anning. An imaginary retelling of a brief period of her life, the film is directed by Francis Lee and stars Kate Winslet in the role of Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Charlotte Murchinson, her lover.
Join us as we discuss this period film mixing science, history, and romance in the South West of England. In the process, we explore the dichotomy between artistic vision vs reality, period film clichés, and what dignifies or not a character.
***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this show we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources & further readings:

Article with film’s synopsis prior to release

Interview with Kate Winslet on LGBTQ+ Representation and Honouring The History of Mary Anning

Behind the scenes

Next Episode

Episode 1 - Chevalier

In a baroque opera hall in Paris sometime in the late 1700s, there’s a concert taking place.

The audience is hypnotized by the virtuosity of the main violin player and the beauty of the music. And still, the most puzzling fact about the scene is the player’s skin colour: it’s Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges, and he’s Black.

Born in Guadeloupe to an enslaved African woman and a French aristocrat, Joseph grows up in Paris and enjoys a high-class education. His talent for music can only benefit from this, making him a renowned musician and composer and gaining the favor of Queen Marie Antoinette and her entourage.

It sounds as if the boundaries of race and class are diluted in this story. Only to discover that, by crossing a line that seemed unimportant, the colour of the skin is the only thing that suddenly matters.

The story of Chevalier is fascinating, and is still hard to believe that it has remained untold for over two centuries.
While reviewing this movie, we learn about hidden jewels in history, what it takes to bring them back to light, and what effect they have on a wider audience.

***Spoiler alert! While reviewing this film, we go through key scenes and may reveal the ending, so be warned of spoilers!***

Sources and other links:

Interview with cast and crew

Kelvin Harrison Jr. on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Interview with the Cast and crew on the TIFF 2022 by “The Hollywood Reporter”

Cast, crew and other facts