Pedro Juan Soto

A Day in the Life

This film did not make it past the editing process in 1953. It was released four decades later in 1993. Although specialists do not agree on the reason, it's likely that the movie's bitter tone and deviation from the dominant, uplifting DivEdCo narrative were the main reasons. Notable for its portrayal of "El Fanguito," a San Juan urban slum, and of country-city emigration at the dawn of Operation Bootstrap.

La noche de don Manuel

A generational conflict is reflected in the old-fashioned ideas of the landowner, who imposes himself as a dominant figure in the political activity of the rural communities of Puerto Rico.

El gallo pelón

In the community of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, the main character, played by the esteemed comedian José Miguel Agrelot, buys a washing machine for his wife. However, the town has no electrical power. The movie’s depiction of the jíbaro as naive and comical created a rift among the DivEdCo personnel, especially its community organizers. It was censored by the government and shelved for many years.

Splendor

It tells the story of a slave rebellion on a sugar plantation in the days leading up to the official abolition of slavery on the island on March 22, 1873.

El yugo

The exploitation of fisherman in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and how the laborers reached their economic independence through operative alliances.

Huracán

Aimed to educate the people, and especially those who lived in the most vulnerable areas, about important safety measures to be taken before, during, and after a storm. The film takes a decidedly modern, scientific approach in its discussion of hurricanes, and it goes to great lengths to dispel popular lore that many of the island’s under-educated inhabitants still relied on for weather predictions.

I, Juan Ponce de León

Details of the life of Juan Ponce de León, founder of the city of San Juan and first governor of Puerto Rico.