René Fortunato

The first part of the trilogy shows the political, economic, and social conditions that made Trujillo's dictatorship in the Dominican Republic possible. It offers a stirring vision of more than twenty years of Dominican history, from 1916 to 1937, using for such aim contemporary films, pictures, documents, and audio recordings of speeches.

The documentary presents the most important political and social events that occurred during the administration of the constitutional government with popular backing, headed by Juan Bosch, in the Dominican Republic, during the first seven months of the year 1963. The military coup d´etat that overthrew the Bosch government, the foreign policy of United States President John Kennedy, and relationship of the United States with members of the military who overthrew regimes throughout Latin America, are subjects that occupy a large part of this documentary, made entirely with original images and sounds from that era.

An account of the major political events that took place in Santo Domingo from the government of Juan Bosch in 1963, until the rise to power of Dr. Joaquin Balaguer in 1966. The military outbreak in April 1965 and the subsequent U.S. invasion are treated in detail.

The documentary describes the events that occurred since the death of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1961, until the inauguration of Juan Bosch y Gaviño as president of the Dominican Republic on February 27, 1963. It also narrates the violence which distinguished the presidency of Balaguer and his efforts to remain in power.

Highlights the most important political and social events in the Dominican Republic during the period from the first of July 1966, the date of the inauguration of Dr. Balaguer as Constitutional President of the Republic, up to August 16, 1974, the day he was sworn in for a third term. Using narrative images and sounds of the era, the documentary highlights the climate of disrespect for the most basic human rights that prevailed during the administrations of Dr. Balaguer, and the violent repression that this President used to unleash against their opponents.

The military and guerrilla career of Colonel Francisco Caamaño from the end of the 1965 Dominican civil war to his death in 1973.