Film: My Father Pablo Escobar
Release date: 12th July 2010
Certificate: Exempt
Running time: 90 mins
Director: Nicolas Entel
Starring: Sebastian Marroquin
Genre: Documentary
Studio: Brightspark
Format: DVD
Country: Argentina/Colombia
To some he was a businessman. To others a respected member of the community who helped build homes for those without. He was a husband and a father. He was also a very dangerous man who heralded Colombia being responsible for 80% of the world’s Cocaine. He was Pablo Escobar.
Argentinean filmmaker Nicolas Entel convinces the son of notorious Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar, Juan Sebastian Marroquin, to tell the story of his father for the very first time. Marroquin chronicles how Escobar went from a well-liked businessman to the country’s most hated man. Meanwhile, Marroquin attempts to contact the sons of two high profile politicians who were assassinated for getting in his dad’s way…
Escobar was killed by the federal government in 1993. Since that time his son, daughter and wife have not returned to their native country. From the moment he first appears on screen; Marroquin is obviously a haunted man. Not because he ever did anything wrong you understand, but because he can’t help but realise that the nation he left behind fifteen years ago hates him simply for the family he was born into.
The story is told in two strands. We see the past as told to us by talking heads, and the present as Marroquin tries to make amends to those who suffered the most. The talking heads, however, aren’t your usual historians and ex-newscasters but the (surviving) players themselves. The incredible archive footage paints the rest of the picture with haunting detail, as corpses, destroyed buildings and at least one live shooting (the genuine on camera death of Luis Carlos Galan must be one of the most shocking sights you’ll ever see) show us what a terrifying time the 1980s and early-90s were in South America.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is that to some Escobar is hailed as a Robin Hood-esque figure. The idea that a self-made billionaire (once the seventh richest man on the planet according to Forbes magazine) would share his wealth with the community he lives in with no strings attached is the stuff of legend. In truth, he was taking way more than he was giving.
The man had everything he could ever want - a cheesy home movie shows how he would buy elephants and lions at a million a pop, just because he could. His widow Maria even laments the moment that they realised there was nothing left for them to buy. At this stage, Escobar decided to get into politics – and this is when the trouble started. Ousted from the new Liberal party because of his line (pun intended) of work, Escobar began killing off the politicians who wanted to out him as the ruthless racketeer he was.
The point of view now shifts from Marroquin to the sons of Luis Galan and Rodrigo Lara. Although their fathers’ lives aren’t detailed nearly as much as their antagonist, their murders are clearly depicted as a loss for the people of Colombia.
The impact that this story has on these men is obvious. Besides losing their fathers; Escobar’s political power allowed him to change Colombia’s constitution, so that the government couldn’t extradite criminals. This explains why the country is still a hotbed for the drug trade to this day. Knowing that their fathers were in one way or another involved in this has clearly left on indelible mark on them.
As with any documentary or true story, it is interesting to know what has been left out. This being the story as told from the man’s son, it is understandable that he doesn’t present the information on his dad’s affair with TV anchorwoman, Virginia Vallejo. It actually isn’t relevant to this particular telling, as Marroquin probably didn’t know about it at the time. In fact, within the context of the telling of Escobar story, his life and character is so interesting that nobody else really gets much of a chance to shine. It is fortunate then that Entel spends as much time as he does in the present day, as the regret of his and his enemies’ sons adds more heft and sheer emotion that elevates the film above your average TV documentary.
A fascinating story that will hook you from the opening moments and keep hold right up until the finale. Told with real passion by the people who care the most. It really has to be seen to be believed. SEAN
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