Following the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner KUED’s UtahNow team explores questions of justice and mercy in: Condemned. Watch the entire show online!

Tonight at 9:55pm, Recovery Days

Check out KUED's
Kids Website!

Search again »

Release Images:

Plutarco Elias Calles
Download

Alicia Calles
Download

Additional photos:

Download

Print this release

In the powerfully filmed documentary POV: El General, filmmkaer Natalia Almada brings to life the many audio recordings she inherited from her grandmother, Alicia. In 1978, Alicia, approaching the last years of her life, began to record her memoirs with the intention of writing a book about her father, Plutarco Elias Calles, a revolutionary general who became president of Mexico in 1924. El General, winner of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Directing Award, will have its national broadcast premiere during the centennial of the Mexican Revolution, Tuesday, July 20 at 11:00 p.m. on KUED.

During his time, Calles was called El Bolshevique and El Jefe Maximo (the Foremost Chief), one of many celebrated revolutionary leaders, along with Álvaro Obregón, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Together they remade Mexico in the early 20th century. Today, Calles is remembered as El Quema-Curas (the Priest Burner), and as a dictator who ruled through puppet presidents until he was exciled in 1936.

Though the book was never written, Alicia's recordings inspired Almada to make the film. Almada uses her grandmother's voice as a guide through her family's past and Mexico's history. The film also acts as a lens through which the viewer can have a look at modern day Mexico.

.

###

Associated files: