PLAINS OF VENEZUELA
According to the information we've received,
Pablo Morillo is still on the run,
but he's in Venezuela.
I think we need to continue with our strategy of taking over towns
until we manage to find him, General.
General Páez, it's going to keep getting more and more difficult
to surprise the Royal Army and that butcher Morillo.
They know we're pursuing them.
And they know where we are.
But little by little, we're gaining ground on them.
We've already taken
Angostura, Mantecal and Guasdualito.
If we continue like this...
Pardon me, General.
I have correspondence for General Bolívar.
Thank you.
- Excuse me, General. - Dismissed.
Now, this is excellent news!
General Santander says that he's waiting for us in Tame
to go up to Santafé.
How do you want us to get there?
Entering through Tame, General.
And ascending the Andes this way.
That's madness.
Look where we are, the climate here.
And what the soldiers are accustomed to.
Or is it what you're accustomed to?
We've convinced all these men to join the cause.
To take them on that crossing would be madness.
You wouldn't even get halfway.
If an army can't cross a mountain range,
it will never be able to liberate a nation.
My God, liberate a nation?
We're talking about how to find Morillo.
You're mistaken, General.
You're mistaken.
Now that Santander has gotten as far as he has,
we're no longer going for that predator Morillo.
We're going for Gran Colombia.
I'm not going along with that madness.
If you want to get there, we'll make a turn here.
Where the Royal Army would be waiting for us!
Perhaps you're not aware,
but the mountain range has a climate that is inhospitable to man.
And that's exactly what the Spaniards think, General!
That's why they'll never ambush us here.
If they tried, they'd never survive.
Don't come with me if you don't want to,
but you can help by going toward Cúcuta
and distracting Morillo so there's no way he will descend towards Santa Fe.
I wouldn't recommend that mission to anyone but you, General.
And your army of brave plainsmen.
What do you say?
Only you.
I will do that with great enthusiasm, General.
But I'm telling you again,
crossing the Andes would be madness.
Let's go!
Turn the wheel to move it.
Let's go!
General Páez was right.
That crossing was harder than we imagined.
It was never-ending and relentless.
As if the enemy had put it there to impede our progress.
We couldn't lose strength.
And if we hesitated, we would be just another anecdote.
But if we got to the other side,
our army would finally be at a level to reach and defeat the Spaniards.
How can one oblige someone to achieve glory?
I don't know what glory you're talking about, General.
I can't feel my fingers anymore.
Most of us don't have shoes.
I know.
I know, but do you think it will be any different if we turn back?
I'm speaking of glory.
For those of us who are going to rise up and finish crossing this mountain.
For the few of us who will be remembered as legends!
They'll shout at the top of their lungs,
"That was the Patriot Army that made it through
and made the Pisba plateau famous in order to attain freedom!"
Freedom!
I'm speaking of the glory that you will recount to your wives.
And to your children, and they, to their children.
I promise you
that no soldier
will forget what his brothers did on this mountain.
Without clothing,
without shoes,
without shelter!
Covered only by honor!
And shod with bravery.
History will say that many didn't make it beyond that path.
But never...
that the best fell.
Rise up!
Rise up, damn it!
And let's prevail over nature
as you did so many times before on the plains!
Count on me, General.
And on me, General.
- Count on me, General. - Count on me, General.
Count on all of us, General!
Count on all of us, General.
Count on me, General.
And on me, General.
I'm looking at what lies ahead for us, General.
Look.
It's striking, General.
Don't you see it, General?
Don't you feel it?
When we get to Socha,
we can begin the path toward the liberty of New Granada.
We'll have the whole viceroyalty rise up in mass.
We'll reach Quito to liberate it and form Gran Colombia.
And there...
we will arm a great army capable of liberating Lima and Upper Peru.
And why not go south?
To Patagonia.
We, the free peoples, will impose justice on Spain.
And the glory of Colombia will never falter.
Don't look at me like that, my friend.
I'm not delusional.
Everything I've said...
I've meant every word.
I know, General.
You really are an admirable man.
I felt that if we were there,
nothing would be impossible.
A sensation of complete happiness, that I had only felt
the day my beloved María Teresa had agreed
to become my wife.
MAY 26, 1802 MADRID, SPAIN
My God.
Mr. Bolívar.
I'm so happy to see you here.
Mr. Simón José Antonio
de la Santísima Trinidad
Bolívar y Palacios,
do you take this young woman,
María Teresa Josefa
Antonia Joaquina
Rodríguez del Toro y Alayza,
to be your lawfully wedded wife
before Almighty God?
My greatest happiness is that she has agreed to be my wife.
I swear before God...
before all of you...
that every day of my life, I will seek to be the man you deserve.
And if I'm not there yet...
I will fight to be on the same level as your noble heart.
Yes. I do.
Miss María Teresa Josefa Antonia
Joaquina Rodríguez del Toro y Alayza,
do you take
Mr. Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad
Bolívar y Palacios
as your lawfully wedded husband
before Almighty God?
Yes.
I do.
Esteemed Juana Nepomucena,
the reason for this letter is to inform you
that on the 26th day of May of last year, 1802,
in the city of Madrid,
I entered into matrimony with Miss María Teresa Rodríguez del Toro,
niece of the respected Marquess del Toro,
noble lady of my hopes and dreams.
We will soon embark on a trip to America,
onboard the ship San Ildefonso.
I hope to see you,
so that you can tell me firsthand about all the family news.
Then we will go to San Mateo,
so that María Antonia and Juan Vicente can meet her
and welcome her into the family with the love and respect she deserves.
Don't drop me, please.
I'll never drop you.
Ever.
I'll never drop you, you hear?
- Careful. - Welcome.
Mr. Bolívar, here's some bread, wine and water.
Do you need anything else?
Don't disturb us, please.
That's an order for us, sir.
Thank you.
I have to confess...
I've been very anxious.
I haven't stopped to think about what it will all be like.
Your life there.
Your family.
Your land.
Our life.
Our family.
And our land, OK?
Careful with the animals!
YEARS EARLIER, ARAGUA VALLEY
I'm beating you, Simón.
Let's go.
- Mom, as I was saying. - Tell me.
The other day, Dionisio and I went through that whole forest over there.
- Over there? - Uh huh.
- And we saw a tiger. - A tiger, Simón?
Really, I swear to you.
It was like... let's say where that white horse is.
- Really? - That's what we saw.
- The shipment! - Bring it all.
I just saw it with my own eyes.
There's still a lot of sugar cane to cut.
If we go on like this,
It's going to dry out and we'll lose the harvest.
The ship will leave without the shipment we promised.
Ma'am, I'm doing everything I can, but I don't have enough workers.
But this is the hacienda with the most slaves
in the entire Aragua Valley.
With the most slaves who don't work.
I have a large number of women who don't even leave the quarters.
What?
They all got pregnant at the same time?
- Or they just gave birth? - No, ma'am.
Then we have to sell them.
Because if they can't bear children or work, they're of no use to us.
Ma'am, we're in no condition to sell slaves.
No, I'm the one who's in no condition to lose this harvest.
Don't you realize how many mouths need to be fed?
We'll see if this has turned into a hotel for slaves. We'll see.
Ma'am, you shouldn't go in there.
Don't worry, Luis.
Simón, go back to the house.
- Mom, but... - You're not going in here.
Ma'am, please don't go in.
Let's go back to the house. I'll explain.
What's this?
Hortensia.
Hortensia, get up.
Martirio!
Get up!
María!
- María, get up! - She doesn't have the strength, Mistress.
Why didn't anyone tell me that this was happening?
How long? How many?
Ma'am, I... I told you about the people who were sick.
- I thought it was temporary. - Well, you were wrong.
You were wrong.
She's burning up with fever.
Those lumps.
Do you know what that is?
- No, ma'am. - It's the King's disease.
Many people die from that.
It's contagious and we must do something. We have to act now.
Get up.
Hipólita.
Do you have lumps?
No, Mistress, I'm fine.
Get out. Get out of here.
And don't come back in!
Go!
My God.
We have to separate the healthy from the sick.
We have to separate them now.
How horrible. Why didn't you tell me?
How could you not have alerted me?
She has a fever.
Let's see.
Is your mother sick?
I don't think so.
Let's see.
Whose idea was it to bring him here? Yours?
My husband is, well...
indisposed.
Take him away, and everyone else who's sick, too. Now!
Not to another place.
- Don't take him away. - He's going!
Mistress María Concepción.
No!
How could you think of lying?
Blood!
How could you?
How could you bring him here?
You should have told me!
You're not going anywhere, Matea.
You come over here.
- Mama, what's going on? - Mama, nothing. You're leaving.
We're going to the house.
Let's go! Hipólita, I told you to leave! Let's go!
- Mama! - Matea, stay here.
Mama.
Let Matea say goodbye.
What do you want, for her to get sick and get you sick?
She's staying here!
DAYS LATER
Matea.
Let's pick some mangos.
Simón, I can't.
Come on, leave her alone. She needs to go to the plantation.
Yes, I have to cut sugar cane.
But you're a house slave.
Everyone is sick. We have to do everything now.
Grandfather!
Welcome, Grandfather.
Hello, Simón.
You've grown so big.
You're not a child anymore.
- Get on. I'll take you. - I'll walk.
Mom.
Grandfather just arrived.
Why is he here?
Because I sent for him.
Stay with him.
I'll be right out.
I'm not sick.
What I am is tired.
And your daughters?
They're fine,
doing their work.
What they should be doing.
I should be thinking about finding them husbands,
and I don't have the time.
I've been thinking about that.
I'm going to help you.
- Are you sure you're alright? - Of course, I'm alright.
I heard what happened with the slaves.
- And that a woman... - No, it was only for a few seconds.
I'm fine.
I've also been thinking of your husband's death.
- He definitely died of... - That was years ago, Papa.
What happened, happened...
from having slept with the prostitutes from Europe.
And any slave who crossed his path.
I'm fine, Papa.
Alright.
But you do look a little upset, sweetheart.
If you want, I can speak with Carlos.
He's your brother and he can help you.
It's clear you don't know your son.
Carlos likes money,
not working to earn it.
Don't talk about him like that.
Besides, he loves this hacienda.
Yes, he loves it. He'd love to have it for himself,
but no.
This hacienda has always belonged to the Bolívars,
and it always will.
Juan Vicente will help me.
But he's only 13 years old, for God's sake.
He's the oldest, Papa.
He's learning.
Alright, and Simón?
Change.
Every night I can't sleep, worrying about that brash spirit.
What is that dance?
Where will he be when he grows up?
I think he needs a father figure who's strong.
Let's go.
WEEKS LATER
Don't say anything. Don't talk too much.
Don't worry, son.
Everything will be fine.
Fine.
Calm down.
They're getting more and more noticeable. I keep getting more, Hipólita.
With the shawl, you can't see them, Mistress. Don't worry.
Help me here. Cover me here, Hipólita.
- Is that good? - It's good.
I'm pale.
Are you alright, Mistress?
- Can you do it? Let's go. - Yes.
- Oh, look who's here. - Stop.
- Simón, stop. Behave yourself!
Leave your sister alone.
- Can't you see they're here? - Look, here comes your husband.
No, he's not for me. He's going to be María Antonia's husband.
They say he's crazy.
You know what? People say a lot of things.
They say he has incontinence.
- Of the mouth. - Stop.
That's what they say.
Daughter.
Welcome.
Good afternoon, Cousin.
- How was the trip? - The trip?
Long. If I'd known it would be this long, I wouldn't have come.
Which of the two is it?
- Why don't we go in? - Yes, come this way.
- You must be exhausted. - Yes.
What did I tell you? He's raving mad.
Yes, you're right.
Stop. Let's go.
I've decided to give in marriage...
my daughter...
María Antonia.
So she will enter into marriage
with Mr. Pablo Clemente.
We have agreed on this wedding...
and we know it will be the perfect union of two families
to the benefit of all.
And that Mr. Pablo Clemente
will give her a life that is
calm and secure.
Secure... in the knowledge, Cousin, that...
I'm not here to steal the Bolívars' fortune like my cousin,
Carlos Palacios, that pig face, no.
You don't know him?
He opens his mouth and he's rotting from the inside out.
Pablo, please.
We're at the table.
He's been rotting, thinking about the Bolívars' fortune
since my cousin María Concepción married Juan Vicente.
- May God bless his soul. - Where he should be,
is tossing around in purgatory from bed to bed like when he was alive.
- From bed to bed? - Yes, Cousin.
- He had the illness of lust... - Enough!
Let's serve the meal.
The travelers must be exhausted.
No more questions.
Everything gets written down here.
How many slaves there are,
what they do, how much they produce.
This first part is for the sugar cane.
And down here, at the end, is for the cacao.
I want you to study all this.
These are the properties of the Bolívar and Palacios family.
This has all its records, which are...
- Registered? - Yes, they're registered with...
His Majesty's notary.
I want you to learn all of this.
- Yes, ma'am. - Look here.
There's a list of all the names, the boundaries.
All of it. I want you to learn all of it.
Yes, ma'am.
Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to the people who buy our sugar cane and molasses.
It's important that they know that, from now on,
you'll be the one they'll be dealing with.
You'll be the one in charge of everything.
Yes, ma'am. So, I will learn all of this.
Who's that, Mom?
It's your Uncle Carlos.
- Pig face? - Simón.
Oh, my sister!
Carlos.
What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you.
I'm here to talk about some important and urgent matters, María Concepción.
But don't you welcome people to this house in a more appropriate place?
Don't you offer them sugar cane juice?
Go on into the house. I'll be right there.
These boys certainly have grown.
Simón, Juan Vicente.
Mom, what do you think Uncle Carlos wants?
I don't know, but we're going to find out.
- Are you alright, Mom? - Yes.
I don't want you to leave my side.
I've been sitting too long, that's all. But come get these things. Let's go.
Everything's fine.
Let's go.
Tell me who it is.
It's your future husband.
No, that's not true.
Yes, it's true. They're going to marry you off before me.
They're taking you away tonight, so behave yourself.
Father.
Son. Welcome. What a pleasure.
I'm your Uncle Carlos.
Poor girl!
Careful! Let her breathe.
What happened?
Honestly, I don't understand why you came here
just to question me about my daughter María Antonia's marriage.
It's obvious... why?
Cousin Pablo Clemente?
Frankly, I don't need to give you an explanation.
I also don't understand your issue.
I have to say it? He's crazy.
That man has no self-control.
He says anything.
He could ruin your fortune.
He has his own.
It's very small, and he's already squandering it.
You can't come in here.
Please.
I sincerely appreciate your concern,
but... I really don't want to argue about this with you.
I already gave my word.
A word that has no validity, dear sister,
because it was given in a moment of desperation.
That's not true.
True or not, he's crazy.
And since my father seems to want to go along with this nonsense,
I have to voice my opinion, and...
I say that I'm opposed.
Alright, so...
what are you proposing?
Did you intend to marry her yourself?
Please. Never.
But you could have consulted me. I'm your brother.
I'm a man. I do understand.
I understand, too.
If I didn't, how else could I have managed all this?
I see that you're here, and you're not helping.
You just want me to do what you say.
Relax.
- Don't touch her. - Hipólita!
Leave her alone.
Arrogant brat.
Hasn't anyone taught you to respect your elders?
Respect you?
All you want to do is steal our fortune.
Simón.
For God's sake, don't be rude.
Respect your uncle.
- Please, go. - Let's go, Simón.
The result of a lack of education, Father.
It's obvious that there's never been a man in charge of these boys.
If you gave me that boy for two or three weeks,
he'd be singing a different tune.
- Simón! - Simón, you can't go in.
I'll be fine, Simón.
All I need is rest.
It's best if you stay away, Simón.
- Simón, let's go. - Come on, Simón.
Simón, let her rest, OK?
Let's go.
Daughter, do you think you're in any condition for this trip?
I'm not in any condition to lose that inheritance, Papa.
This trial has taken a long time, and they've finally given us a hearing.
I have to go. Besides, this is María Antonia's wedding.
Where are you going, Matea?
I'm going to say goodbye to my mama.
Mom, let her go.
You're not going anywhere. It's for everyone's own good.
Get in the carriage with the girls. Let's go, Matea.
Yes, Mistress.
Your Excellency, the attorney Virgilio Trespalacios is here,
representative of Mrs. María Concepción Palacios y Bolívar,
Mrs. María Concepción Palacios y Bolívar,
Mr. Feliciano Palacios,
and the young Simón Bolívar.
And which of the more than 20 issues that this woman has pending
are you here to discuss?
Because it seems that this rich widow...
devotes herself to nothing else but filling this office
with lawsuits, complaints, and disputes, damn it.
We're the ones who called them here, Your Excellency.
It's about the legal action for the recognition of the inheritance.
Alright, show them in,
and make it quick, because I'm very hungry,
and when I'm hungry, I can't, I don't, I'm unable to,
and I don't like to work, understood?
So hurry up. Let's go.
In the name of His Catholic Majesty, Carlos IV,
King of Spain and the Indies, I hereby declare...
that the house located on the corner of Gradillas,
and all its haciendas, factories and associated properties
in the inheritance of Concepción,
instituted by Mr. Juan Jerez de Aristeguieta,
will be left to Simón de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios...
who will be able to take position of said lands
once he is married and living in Caracas...
and that upon his loss,
these will pass...
into his grandchildren's possession.
Take that woman out of here! She looks like she has tuberculosis.
Next time, bring a bell that will alert us to your dreadful presence, ma'am!
Damned Creole boor!
If it were up to me, I wouldn't have given you anything!
You haven't given me anything.
- Miserable lackey. - Out!
- Never speak to my son like that again.
I never want to see you again. Out! Get them out of here!
Out!
Out of here, man!
Bastard.
He threw us out like a mangy dog.
A mangy dog, Cousin.
That's exactly what we are to the Spanish, just mangy dogs.
He's a disgusting pig.
WEEKS LATER CARACAS, VÍNCULO HOUSE
How is she this morning?
She's very stable. She wants to see you.
You can't get too close.
And most important, don't act sad. She doesn't like that.
I've called you all here and I want you to listen very carefully.
It's my wish...
that my daughter María Antonia...
will marry my cousin, Pablo Clemente
as soon as possible...
so they can establish a home.
For that,
I have allocated a dowry that is noted in this document.
In addition...
that my daughter Juana Nepomucena...
will marry...
my Uncle Dionisio.
A marriage that will be arranged
within the next few days.
It is also my wish...
that my son Juan Vicente...
will finish his training...
and continue to be in charge of the businesses...
and taking care of the continuity and stability of the Bolívar fortune.
If I'm gone...
Simón will be...
in my father's care.
I am certain...
he will give him the best education and training possible.
You won't be gone, because you're not leaving.
One day, I will be gone.
And it's my duty to leave everything in an organized manner.
Take care of the house.
Take care of the inheritance.
You have many things you need to take care of.
Work on them,
as I did when your father passed away.
And remember...
Remember that you are not Spanish.
You are Creole.
And every day, it will become more and more difficult
for a Creole to be respected.
That's why you need to take care of your assets
in order to maintain your place.
Now, leave me alone.
- Simón. - I love you.
- You could get sick, Simón. Let's go. - Take him away.
Simón.
Simón, come here.
Look.
It says here that the King of France can save her.
Look. In this picture, you can see how he's curing a sick person.
How can we get the King of France to come?
Is it true that you nursed me when I was born?
Yes, it's true.
Why?
Well, your mother was very tired.
They had me married in order to have Dionisio.
So that's why he was born?
Yes, so I could nurse the two of you.
Yes, little one.
And when I was little, Cousin, they told me that
in the great beyond, people must have a really good time.
Up there, people must have a really good time.
And that when you look up above, they're looking back down at you.
I think that...
my cousin María Concepción is going to have a wonderful time
- when she's there. - No, Cousin.
My mother isn't going to die.
She'll get better, because her illness has a cure.
She'll be fine. She'll be great.
Simón,
the illness that my cousin María Concepción has,
has no cure.
Mom.
Son, calm down.
Come here.
Simón, please stop.
Simón.
- Don't touch me! - It's not good for you, son.
No.
Simón.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Remember that your mother will always be here in your heart.
At least you were able to say goodbye to her.
I couldn't say goodbye to mine.
That day, I understood...
that as men, we are fragile...
finite...
and that illness is merciless.
Getting over my mother's death was very difficult,
but we remained united.
OCTOBER 22, 1792
I felt that if my sister María Antonia took charge of everything,
like my mother had done,
we would move forward.
Pablo and María Antonia,
go forth and multiply.
That was the order that God gave to all his creatures,
and the reason for which you have come here to the house of God
to sanctify your marriage.
By the power vested in me by God,
I hereby sanctify you with love and great pleasure.
In nomine Patris, et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti.
Amen.
Such a great loss, that of my sister María Concepción.
Yes.
I am devastated.
And... the will?
I have it. Let's go.
It couldn't be in better hands.
I imagine that in her generosity, María left something for her brothers.
She left everything to her children, as is appropriate.
Of course.
She did leave you something.
The responsibility of taking Juan Vicente to the army.
Of course. I'll do that...
with great pleasure. Father...
who will be in charge of taking care of these boys?
I will. Of course.
Wonderful.
- Dionisio, please. - Uncle.
Will you come with us?
- Hipólita. - Uh huh?
What comes next?
Everything's already packed. Now you'll go home with your husband.
Yes, I know that, but what does that mean?
What do I need to do?
What do you mean?
Didn't your mother explain anything to you?
She didn't tell you anything?
No.
No, and I'm very nervous. I don't know what I have to do.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my child.
Where should we begin?
Have a good trip, Cousin.
Good trip, Cousin. Thank you very much.
Remember, we have horses there, too, for whenever you want to go riding.
And remember that two times two makes four, and four times two makes six.
Are you taking Mom's diary?
Yes, I'm taking it for safekeeping.
Oh, that's the diary of my cousin María Concepción,
where she wrote down all your father's sins and lecheries.
He was a pig, a swine, a fornicator, my uncle.
- Will we see each other again? - Of course.
You know where I'll be, so you can visit me whenever you want.
And behave yourself. Grandfather isn't 30 anymore.
Brother,
when you learn to fence and shoot, come and teach me.
I'll be practicing.
Take care.
Let's go, Uncle.
But María Antonia left, too.
And then, Juana.
All the women in the family who had given me security were gone.
Suddenly...
I was alone.
Alone and in the care of my grandfather,
a man with too much will and too little health
to be in charge of a boy.
A YEAR AND A HALF LATER CARACAS, VÍNCULO HOUSE
No, Hipólita.
I'm not going to eat anything.
Do you want me to save it for later, Master?
Yes, please.
And remember that Carlos is coming for lunch today.
Yes, Master.
I'm sorry, Simón, I can't join you. I'm not feeling well at all.
Don't worry, Grandfather. You just rest.
Alright.
Have some breakfast.
Remember that today is market day.
And I don't want Simón going off alone in the street, understand?
Yes, Master.
Hey, why are you running?
Chicken!
- You can't catch me. - Who are you kidding?
You're just a slowpoke.
I beat you, no?
Boys! Bad boys!
Now you'll really run, no?
Boys!
What are you doing here?
Brats! Who's going to pay for all this?
What happened?
Here comes dirty Simón and his little black boy.
Where were you two?
Grandfather.
Grandfather!
Grandfather. No!
Suddenly...
Grandfather was gone.
The house was gone.
Everything was gone.
With his death,
I was left in the hands of that terrifying man,
with breath like manure,
who was determined to educate me in his own way,
to control me in his own way,
and take control of everything my mother had worked so hard for,
to ensure that we would never lack anything.
I was still a boy.
And I had lost everything.
Subtitle translation by: Ruth Kunstadter