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El General Blends Story of Family and Country
Director Natalia Almada explores her personal connection to Mexican history and the Mexican Revolution
Existing peacefully within the relatively calm stability of American political history, it is easy to forget the tumult and unrest that has occurred so close to home. Mexico’s political history reads like the pages of a suspense thriller, and at no time was it more exciting or controversial than during the years during and following the Mexican Revolution. Pivotal in this time, were the actions of Plutarco Elías Calles. Calles was a general in the war and later became the President of the country undergoing violent modernization. In her new documentary, director Natalia Almada explores her own very personal connection to Mexican history and Calles himself.
El General is a documentary that pulls out all of the stops. Almada pieces together archival footage, personal interviews (many of which are conducted with Almada’s own grandmother, who recounts her memories and relationship with her father—the dictatorial leader), Hollywood movies and still photographs to create an hypnotic blend of personal narrative and historical fact. The film is tied together with a tantalizing original score that bridges the gap between standard documentary and classic Almada sparkler.
Bostonians will get the first opportunity to view El General, which won the Best Director: U.S. Documentary award at the Sundance Film Festival as The Institute of Contemporary Art will be showing the film November 1, 2009 at 4:00 pm, and again on November 28, 2009 at 2:00 pm, in conjunction with their Frames of Reality: New Film From Mexico program. Tickets are $10 and available online and at ICA. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.icaboston.org/programs/film/.