Films & Events
El General
Documentarian Natalia Almada’s award-winning film, El General, investigates two competing narratives arising from personal memoir and political history. Six hours of audio recordings made by Almada’s grandmother, recalling her father, Plutarco Elías Calles, provide the impetus for the film. Calles, a heroic revolutionary general and president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928, was known then as “El Bolshevique” and is remembered today as “El Quema-Curas,” or “priest–burner.” The fond memories of his daughter and the historical record of his brutal dictatorship epitomize the failed idealism of the Mexican Revolution and the contradictions that persist throughout Mexico’s turbulent history. Almada’s film combines her grandmother’s recollections with a stunning array of archival and original film footage, historical and original audio recordings, and an extensive library of still photographs that shed light on 100 years of recent Mexican history. A beautifully detailed production, El General is captivating for its director’s unencumbered appraisal of her family’s formative role in her country’s violent past and for its compassionate portrait of Mexico both then and now.
Sponsors:
Consulate of Mexico, KBTC
Cast & Crew
Director: Natalia Almada
Producer: Daniela Alatorre, Natalia Almada
Editor: Natalia Almada
Screenwriter: Natalia Almada
Cinematographer: Chuy Chavez
Awards: Sundance Film Festival 2009 (Best Director–U.S. Documentary)
Music: Shahzad Ismaily, John Zorn, Marc Ribot
Filmography: To the Other Side (2005)
World Sales: Louise Rosen Ltd.
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(2 reviews)
user reviews
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Thin gruel, May 24, 2009
By Stephen McAdoo
“At one point, the film maker - the great granddaughter of the film's subject - says she wishes she knew more about the general. Me too. Maybe if she did, she would have made a more interesting movie. A little bit of history, interspersed with pointless footage and observations seemingly shot at”
… full review
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Best Doc I've seen in SIFF '09, Jun 10, 2009
By Jessie Calhoun
“Please disregard the above review by Mr. McAdoo!!!!!!! He obviously does not know an AMAZING DOCUMENTARY when he sees one!!!
Director Natalia Almada presented a very tight, intelligent and intimate portrait of her Great Grandfather, General Calles. Her use of archival footage, family audio”
… full review
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