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Libertador will be part of the program at the 11th FICM

Libertador, the most recent work of Alberto Arvelo (Cyrano Fernández, 2007; Una casa con vista al mar, 2001), will be presented at the 11th FICM. Libertador stars the outstanding Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramírez (Special Guest FICM 2010 and 2012) and was written by Timothy J. Sexton, screenwriter of Children of Men (2006) by Alfonso Cuarón.

The film tells the story of the life of Simón Bolívar, known as “The Liberator,” the military leader who, more than anyone, helped usher in the independence of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Ecuador. It shows the parts of his childhood that were crucial to his impetuous defense of the indigenous peoples, as well as his disenchantment with European culture and the development of military strategies for the liberation of South America from the yoke of Spanish colonialism.

“This project has taken many years [to do] and has survived many attempts,” the director said about the long and difficult road to the big screen, “but we knew it was a story that had to be told.”

On the interpretation of Simón Bolívar, Ramírez said, “The first thing I tried to do was to forget the historical importance of the character, or at least not to let it interfere in my interpretation. We knew we were not looking for the Bolívar in the portraits…what we tried was to avoid idealizing the person, but to tell the story of a man, the man that existed behind the legendary figure.

Libertador had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2013 and now will be shown for the first time in Mexico at the 11th FICM. For more information and to consult its screening schedule in Morelia click: here