Pragda Spanish Film Festival: 339 Amín Abel Hasbún

School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures | Spanish and Portuguese | Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center Tuesday, October 13, 2015 7:15 pm - 10:00 pm St. Mary’s Hall, Multipurpose Room

Director: Etzel Báez / 97 min / 2014

Drama Language: Spanish with English subtitles

Nationality: Dominican Republic

Cast: Margaux Da Silva, Pericles Mejía, Guillermo Liriano, Pablo David Quinteros, Ernesto Báez, Héctor Then, Ico Abreu, Mario Núñez

Official Teaser (YouTube)

339 AMÍN ABEL HASBÚN. MEMORY OF A CRIME [339 Amín Abel Hasbún. Memoria de un Crimen], is the first film in this year’s Pragda Spanish Film Festival.

339 Amín Abel Hasbún. Memoria de un Crimen is based on unclassified documents dating from the Cold War and the Dominican Government’s official investigation, as well as the information described in University Professor Fidel Santana’s book: Amín Abel Hasbún – Un Gigante Dormido.

This film is an intriguing account of the murder of Amín Abel Hasbún, a brilliant student leader in the Dominican Republic accused of kidnapping US Embassy official J. Crowley. Hasbún was one of many young leftists fighting against the government of Dr. Joaquín Balaguer, who favored a repressive regime.

Hasbún’s death shook the sensibility of the Dominican people to the point that Balaguer had to orchestrate an investigation despite the fact that his government had been responsible for the cold-blooded murder.

With a plot that involved the CIA and the Dominican Republic Police Force, the film does an excellent job at deconstructing the events that took place the morning of September 24, 1970, when Amín, his wife and 2-year-old son received the fatal visit of the police and country’s District Attorney.

Dr. Eyda Merediz, Head of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, will give a brief introduction before the film showing.

The 2015 Festival is presented by Dr. Fatemeh Keshavarz, Director of the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Dr. Laurie Frederik, Director of the Latin American Studies Center, and Dr. Eyda Merediz, Head of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The Festival Coordinator is Dr. José M. Naharro, also of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

NOTES ON FILM

339 Amín Abel Hasbún. Memoria de un Crimen is based on unclassified documents dating from the Cold War and the Dominican Government’s official investigation, as well as the information described in University Professor Fidel Santana’s book: Amín Abel Hasbún – Un Gigante Dormido.

The narrative is constructed in three acts. The first act portrays the interrogations made to all the officials involved and Amín’s wife; the second act shows how the events took place, according to the version of one of the police officials; and the third and final act tells the story as captured by a maid who was also at the house. It uses “dramatic irony,” expressionism, impressionism, critical realism, and classic romanticism incorporated in a neo-noir style.

The film is directed to stir debates about death penalty, values of peace and human rights, democracy, as well as pointing out the political implications of the CIA’s involvement in Latin American military and Police Forces in their campaign to eliminate any individual that could become a leader of opposition and leftist revolutions during the Cold War.

Learn about other films in the festival:

339 AMÍN ABEL HASBÚN. MEMORY OF A CRIME [339 Amín Abel Hasbún. Memoria de un crimen], October 13

PARADISE [Paraíso], October 20

ETERNAL AMAZON [Amazônia Eterna], October 27

THE CROW’S NEST [Malacrianza], November 3

ASIER AND I [Asier ETA biok], November 10

The film festival is made possible with support from the PRAGDA Spanish Film Club and Spain Arts and Culture.

Add to Calendar 10/13/15 19:15:00 10/13/15 22:00:00 America/New_York Pragda Spanish Film Festival: 339 Amín Abel Hasbún