The Liberator
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compelling lead performance saves violent Bolivar biopic.
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The Liberator
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What's the Story?
THE LIBERATOR tells the story of South America's most famous general, 19th-century freedom fighter Simon Bolivar (Edgar Ramirez), who was born and raised in Venezuela as the orphaned heir to a sugar-plantation fortune. After Bolivar marries a Madrid socialite who quickly dies of yellow fever, he mourns and recovers throughout Europe, where he's approached by his childhood tutor and a British banker (John Huston), who convince him that it's time for Latin America to free itself from Spain's oppressive rule. Returning to South America, Bolivar gathers a growing coalition of local citizens and foreign sympathizers to take on the tyrannical royalists -- and the imposing Spanish fleet. But Bolivar soon realizes that not everyone shares his vision for a united Latin American republic.
Is It Any Good?
There are some impressive aspects of The Liberator. Ramirez, for one, is the ideal actor to play Bolivar, particularly because he himself is Venezuelan, and that sort of personal connection to a role rarely occurs in Hollywood productions (we can only imagine which British actor might have played the role, had the movie been made by a major studio). A gifted actor (watch the mini-series Carlos for further proof), Ramirez is appropriately swashbuckling and dashing to play Bolivar, and he certainly makes it believable that the continent's great liberator was also quite the Casanova.
The war sequences are well staged and handled, as are the set pieces involving gorgeous Venezuelan, Colombian, or Spanish castles, forts, caves, and plantations. Unfortunately, the plot's pace and lack of more personal details bog the story down, making it seem longer than two hours. So much happens, but the audience doesn't find out enough about Bolivar's motivations or his relationship with Manuela Saenz (Julia Acosta), whom Bolivar called "the liberator of the liberator." It's worth seeing, if only for Ramirez, who deserves more leading roles. But don't expect a definitive or comprehensive view on either the man or his cause; a mini-series would be a better way to fully appreciate what Bolivar accomplished in South America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of period biographies. What makes The Liberator unique? Did you appreciate how it was in different languages?
Does the movie make you want to learn more about Bolivar? What did you learn him? Do you think everything in the movie was portrayed accurately? Why do filmmakers sometimes take liberty with factual events/people?
Discuss the movie's violence. Why is that kind of content necessary to tell Bolivar's story? What about the love scenes?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 3, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: March 10, 2015
- Cast: Edgar Ramirez , John Huston , Erich Wildpret
- Director: Alberto Arvelo
- Inclusion Information: Latino directors, Latino actors
- Studio: Cohen Media Group
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Run time: 119 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: war violence including some grisly images, and for sexuality/nudity
- Last updated: March 9, 2023
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