WANDA Presents
Martí
A film by Fernando Pérez
"On a daily basis I am in danger of giving my life for my country and for my
duty ... I know how to die, but my beliefs will not die ..."
José Martí
Director's SYNOPSIS
José Martí was a man with a very special sensibility, one who had a
considerable influence on the history of Cuba. However, he was also
an ordinary human being, just like us. I believe that this is what
makes great men truly great. My film delves into the complex daily
events that shaped Martí's character during his childhood and
adolescence. This perspective will be more personal than historical,
more subjective than biographical.
Every Cuban has his own conception of Martí. In this film I shall
attempt to convey my idea of him.
Fernando Pérez
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Script and Director
FERNANDO PÉREZ
Photography
RAÚL PÉREZ URETA
Editing
JULIA YIP
Music
EDESIO ALEJANDRO
Direct Sound Recording
RAÚL LORENZO AMARGO PÉREZ
Sound Design
EDESIO ALEJANDRO
Costumes
MIRIAM DUEÑAS
Art Direction and Set Design
ERIC GRASS
Make up Artist
MAGALY POMPA
Hair Artist
JUAN FRANCISCO CARREÑO OLIVER
Produced by
WANDA FILMS, LUSA FILMS, ICAIC &
TVE
Producers
JOSÉ Mª MORALES, SANCHO GRACIA &
CAMILO VIVES
CAST
MARTÍ AS A BOY
Damián Antonio Rodríguez
MARTÍ AS A TEENAGER
Daniel Romero
LEONOR
Broselianda Hernández
DON MARIANO
Rolando Isidro Brito Rodríguez
SALUSTIAN
Manuel Porto
GENERAL
Aramis Delgado
CART DRIVER
Luis Rielo
MENDIVE
Julio César Ramírez
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
JOSÉ MARTÍ (1853-1895)
José Julián Martí Pérez was born in Havana, Cuba, on 28th January 1853. When
he was still a child, the cruel spectacle of slavery raised a strong sense of
awareness in him, leading him to take an oath, "to wash away crime with his
life."
Martí's ideas, together with his dramatic works against colonialism, were
published in different newspapers and repeatedly led him to be prosecuted,
imprisoned and exiled.
His exile in Madrid and in Saragossa confirmed his belief that Cuba could expect
no help from the Spanish Government, whether monarchical or republican, in
its fight for independence and justice. Later on, his stay of almost fifteen years
in the United States enabled him to gain an in-depth insight into the US
Government's growing imperialist aspirations, based on a desire to extend the
country's borders beyond the Río Bravo.
The first issue of the newspaper, "Patria," appeared on 14th March 1892. The
10th April of that year marked the proclamation of the Cuban Revolutionary
Party, in which Martí was elected a Delegate.
As of this moment, Martí's revolutionary activity took on an almost
overwhelming intensity, as reflected in his speeches, in his articles for the
newspaper, "Patria," in his letters and in his incessant trips. With a view to
providing a definitive boost for independence and in order to prevent the new
US imperialist drive from extending the United States' influence throughout the
West Indies and tightening its grip on Latin America, Martí organised a war that
would achieve the impossible. On 11th April 1895 he returned to Cuba, where,
just a few weeks later, on 19th May, he would be killed in combat at Dos Ríos.
EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY
JOSÉ MARTÍ (1853-1895)
YOUTH
José Julián Martí Pérez was born in Havana, Cuba, on 28th January 1853. When
he was still a child, the cruel spectacle of slavery raised a strong sense of
awareness in him, leading him to take an oath,
"to wash away crime with his life"
During his education, he was strongly influenced by Rafael María de Mendive,
the teacher and patriot, who undertook to pay for his secondary studies.
However, Martí's political activities did not take long to put him behind bars. In
1869, Martí's ideas were published in the newspapers, "El Diablo Cojuelo" and
"La Patria Libre," as well as being reflected in his drama, "Abdala."
By the time he was an adolescent, Martí was already fighting against
colonialism. Condemned to six years in a political prison, whose horrors he
would later describe and denounce in the tract, "El presidio político en Cuba"
("Political Imprisonment in Cuba"), Martí's experiences in this penitentiary
forged the ethical beliefs and thoughts that would lead him to predict a war of
liberation, one that was "necessary, but without hatred."
EXILE
After another year's confinement on Isla de Pinos, Martí was deported to Spain
in 1871. His exile in Madrid and in Saragossa confirmed his belief that Cuba
could expect no help from the Spanish Government, whether monarchical or
republican, in its fight for independence and justice. In Saragossa, Martí
obtained a Degree in Civil and Canonical Law and in Philosophy and Humanities
in 1874. These studies did not distract him from his struggle, however, and
alongside his friend, Fermín Valdés, he was once again tried and convicted.
After visiting various European cities, he finally reached Veracruz in 1875,
where he met Manuel Mercado. He returned to Havana on his way to
Guatemala in 1877 and in September of the following year. Three months later
his son, José Francisco, was born, his much-adored "Ismaelillo", to whom he
devoted his poems. Detained in September 1879, whilst conspiring for what
was known as the "Guerra Chiquita" ("Little War"), in view of the Spanish
authorities' insistence that he issue a declaration in favour of Spanish imperial
rule, he once again went into exile, which led him to wander through Mexico,
Guatemala and Venezuela, witnessing the problems presented by these new
republics, weighed down as they were by their past colonialist vices.
Later on, his stay of almost fifteen years in the United States enabled him to
gain an in-depth insight into the US Government's growing imperialist
aspirations, based on a desire to extend the country's borders beyond the Río
Bravo. Throughout these years, he discovered, loved and defended what he
called "Our America," pursuing various different activities:




he worked as a translator from various different languages,
he served as a diplomat representing various Latin American republics,
he laboured as a chronicler of his age
and he emerged as a scholar and analyst
He became one of the most important writers on the American Continent, even
though he published virtually no books, and he was the most widely-read
journalist in the Spanish-speaking Americas.
GOALS
He never ceased to serve his people and during the latter stages of his life he
had only one goal: the liberation of Cuba. In order to bring about this goal, he
united different forces within society with the sole aim of ensuring
independence, foreseeing a different kind of republic to those he had witnessed
in other nations throughout the Americas.
The first issue of the newspaper, "Patria," appeared on 14th March 1892. The
10th April of that year marked the proclamation of the Cuban Revolutionary
Party, in which Martí was elected a Delegate.
Martí's short-term aims focused on securing the liberation of Cuba, but his
ultimate goals went much further:


to establish a brotherhood of Latin American peoples, one that would be
essential in terms of ensuring their economic and cultural survival.
He also sought to bring about an improvement in living conditions
among these peoples, one that would not only be contemplated as a
possibility, but would be implemented as a reality, a sentiment expressed
in the children's magazine, "La Edad de Oro" ("The Golden Age").
As of this moment, Martí's revolutionary activity took on an almost
overwhelming intensity, as reflected in his speeches, in his articles for the
newspaper, "Patria," in his letters and in his incessant trips. With a view to
providing a definitive boost for independence and in order to prevent the new
US imperialist drive from extending the United States' influence throughout the
West Indies and tightening its grip on Latin America, Martí organised a war that
would achieve the impossible. On 11th April 1895 he returned to Cuba, where,
just a few weeks later, on 19th May, he would be killed in combat at Dos Ríos.
A few hours before dying he had written to his friend, Mercado: "On a daily
basis I am in danger of giving my life for my country and for my duty ... I
know how to die, but my beliefs will not die ..."
About the proyect
A collection of 8 films that illustrate the work and thoughts of the most relevant
figures of Latin America’s emancipation. Their stories will not only include
historical facts but will also capture the human side and the ideology of each
liberator.
The word Liberators is owed to them not only because they fought for the
independence of their countries. Their revolutionary activity transcended to the
liberation
of
humanity,
which
began
in
their
own
nations.
Each hero shared a common idea that was to create one great American
motherland. This idea was based on two concepts that echo the news, in our
globalized world, today: Fraternity amongst people and free trade with the rest
of the world, founded on material, political, social and cultural progress.
Their dreams and failures as well as their defeats and triumphs were not always
compensated. Yet their fight has left a legacy of hope in a more equal world.
Through both their skills and their errors we will witness the making of the
American
diary.
The characters that we have chosen are closely linked to Spain. Not only due to
political circumstances or to their common language but also because of the
ideas they promoted on both sides of the Atlantic and their work, which was
and
still
is
decisive
for
our
history.
Each film will not only convey the historical facts and biographies but will
penetrate in each character, bringing us closer to them on an emotional level.
Each story will be based on the following:
 Literature. The point of view of a writer of the time
 Popular legends on the character that has endured generation after
generation
 A possible fictional situation they might have lived – always based on
objective facts
 Their own writings
Elements of fiction will be used to tell the life and thoughts of each character so
this collection of films will lean more toward drama rather than a historical
documentary,
thus
creating
8
feature
length
films.
Each film will be:
 Shot in the country of origin of each liberator
 Acted by professional actors
 Shot by the best directors in each country
Wanda Films (José María Morales) and Lusa Films (Sancho Gracia) will be
the producers together with co-producer Television Española, who will premiere
each film in Spain on television. In Latin American and the rest of the world,
each film will be distributed in cinemas as well as all the main national and panAmerican television channels.