Manuela Sáenz

A historic saga which fleshes out the fashionable reassessment of one of Venezuela's controversial figures, Manuela Sáenz, lover of Simon Bolívar, the Liberator of Spanish colonies and campaigner for unified Latin American independence. This tells the story in flashback from Sáenz's memories as she lies crippled and facing death in exiled poverty. Although the younger Sáenz is shown pacing around in military uniform, there's little coherent political context. Her passion for Bolívar is the focus. And by constantly switching from past to present, the director keeps our involvement at arm's length.