RANCHEADOR (THE SLAVE HUNTERS)

Cuba, 1976, 95 minutes, Colour.
Reynaldo Miravalles, Adolfo Llaurado, Samuel Claxton, Omar Valdes.
Directed by Sergio Giral.

Second in a trilogy by Sergio Giral concerning the history of slavery in Cuba. The style is that of a Western, but the interest is in the socio-economic aspects of slavery, presenting much savagery, especially through Estevez, a catcher of runaway slaves and, finally, his pursuit of Melchora, a woman who was a symbol of freedom.

1. How interesting and entertaining a film? A Cuban film? The qualities of Cuban filmmaking? Themes, history. social issues? Observation, representation of history, critique?

2. The film is based on an authentic diary of the central character. The authenticity of the characters and events?

3. The nature of the Rancheadors? Cuban mercenaries and their role in society? The powers that they wore given? Acting on behalf of authority? Exploiting their authority? The hunting for runaway slaves? The oppression of the poor farmers? Lays unto themselves? The brutality of their methods, the taking of an ear? The brutality and the film's judgment on this?

4. The representation of Cuban history? The Spanish colonials and their style of life, rule, economics, oppression? The manoeuvres of society to gain more wealth etc.? The critique of the landowners?

5. The character and portrayal of the military head and his dealings, liaison with authority, the holding of trials? The powers to Estevez? The revocation of these when it suited? The style of Spanish colonial government?

6. The focus on Estevez and his work, seeing him lead his men. the hunting of the slaves, the killing, the cutting off of the ears? The brutality? The obsessions? The hunting of the slaves, the use of Mataparo after humiliating him, releasing him from prison? His obsession with the search for Melchora? His brutality with the small farmers and their murders? Allowing his men to be scapegoated? His growing madness?
Relationship with his wife, with the slave girl? The eventual overreaching himself and his isolation and death?

7. The presentation of the slaves and their plight, the oppression, the hunting, the escapes, the hiding in the hills, the arms and revolt against authority? The trading of honey etc. for arms? Mataparo as representing the slaves? Dignity, the hero of the film? Prison, guiding Estevez and his men, misleading them? Making them fearful with superstition and his stories of Melchora? The final confrontation with Estevez?

8. The theme of Melchora and the woman leader, the mythic leader of the slaves, the stories about her, her sacred place, her movement with the symbols of the birds? As a goal for Estevez?

9. The scenes of fighting, pursuit, deaths, brutality? Audience response to this?

10. The group, friendships, betrayals, rivalries? Eventual death?

11. The social themes as presented in a narrative very much similar to American Westerns? Impact on a Cuban audience? World wide audience?