Simon Bolivar is something like South America's version of George Washington. He actually looked up to our first President as a champion of the American Revolution (the two were also both Freemasons, interestingly), and sought to lead a similar charge in gaining his country's independence from Spain. Like Washington he was a man of some wealth who rose to prominence as a military hero, and showed a similar dislike for politics even as power was thrust upon him. He was an extremely complicated man who lived a life of intrigue too large for one single film, but The Liberator is still a striking introduction to the 19th century revolutionary.
Passion and undeniable magnetism mark Edgar Ramirez's performance as
Bolivar, capturing many facets of the man who was a fighter, a lover, and a
scholar. The film begins with a glimpse of the future dangers he would face; a
celebration, a beautiful and mysterious woman, and a cadre of armed soldiers
bursting through the door. Bolivar escapes but not before the commander is
overheard saying that he "must die tonight". How does a man born to
such privilege become the most wanted man in all of South America? Flashing
back, we see Bolivar humiliating Prince Ferdinand, a prelude to their future
conflicts. Raised by the family slave and taught by socialist professors, he
nonetheless was blind to the government that oppressed its people so that
others like him could reap the benefits. Even during these less enlightened
periods, Bolivar comes across as thoughtful, considerate, a powerful man who
has yet to realize his strength. A "noble savage" as his friend and
teacher Simon Rodriguez (Francisco Denis) calls him. After wedded bliss ends in
tragedy and a brief stint wasting away in Paris, it's Rodriguez who convinces
Bolivar to do something with his life by taking up arms in a fight
independence.
Screenwriter Timothy Sexton, who wrote the equally truncated Cesar Chavez
biopic starring Michael Pena, depicts Bolivar's failures as much as his successes.
His first foray as a revolutionary ended in exile to the jungles, but it
afforded him the chance to see what life was really like and why regime change
was a necessity. With the help of Torkington (an especially oily Danny Huston),
a British banker of dubious intent, Bolivar leads a Braveheart-style
underdog war against the Spanish armada, and in the process becomes a true
champion of the people. 
It's refreshing to see a film that makes great use of South America's lush
jungle landscapes and vibrant colors. There's real beauty in each scene
captured by director Alberto Arvelo, both the quiet moments and impressively
large battles. It's just unfortunate we never really get to see Bolivar's true
impact on the people he fought, bled, and lost loved ones for. Ramirez has
really embraced this idea of embodying all of South America's most famous, or
infamous, revolutionaries. Prior to this the best performance of his career was
as Venezuelan freedom fighter/terrorist Carlos the Jackal, and both roles play
as flipsides of the same coin with Ramirez excelling at both. While it's
disappointing the film never gets as in depth as it could, perhaps it's not
such a bad thing that The Liberator leaves us wanting to learn more.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
