Freire (Film)

Freire
Official theatrical release poster
Directed by	Natalia Ramirez
Written by	Juan Manuel Ocampo
Based on	Freire: Cesylle’s First Revolutionary by Juan Manuel Ocampo
Produced by	Juan Manuel Ocampo Natalia Ramirez
Starring	Franco Piñón Teresa Martí Juan Manuel Ocampo Tomás Seco
Cinematography	Caitlin Szymanski
Edited by	Valeria Secada
Music by	Juan Manuel Ocampo
Production company	Sentido Studios
Distributed by	Sentido Motion Pictures
Release date	November 7, 2021
Running time	159 minutes
Countries	Nastanovo Elaklania
Language	Isabellan
Budget	€17.76 million

Freire is a 2021 Nastnovian and Elaklanian sung-and-rapped-through musical film, adapted from the 2014 musical of the same name, using a live recording from a largely attended performance of the musical in the Elaklanian Capital of Puerto Bontia in 2016. Natalia Ramirez directed the film, and co-produced it alongside Juan Manuel Ocampo, who also wrote and composed the film, while also portraying the eponymous lead character.

The film follows the same plot as the musical in the life of Bernardo Freire during the Century of Revolutions. The film's beginning describes Freire's family's immigration from the Cosavian colonial-island holdings to Nastanovo and finding work as a child and as a teenager under the Viceroyalty in the capital city of Santo Dominco. Then leading into the major events of the musical which include the War of Ferdinandian Independence, his selection to becoming General of the Citizen's Army of Ferdinandia, the events following the separation of Elaklania, his coronation as Sovereign of Nastanovo, the Coalition Wars of 1790 and his personal life. The film ends with the assassination of Freire and a final scene with the ascension of his son to become Sovereign of Nastanovo and a recounting of his legacy as Cesylle’s First Revolutionary

The film adaption was released on the November 7, 2021, premiering in a number of theatres, while being released on streaming services two weeks later on November 30. Critics praised the film for its use of unique camera positioning to convey new emotion towards lines within the musical numbers throughout the film.

Plot

Freire focuses on the life and times of Bernardo Freire thereby organising his life into two acts; the first of the acts focusing on his life leading up to his participation in the War of Ferdinandian Independence, and the second act focusing on his reign as Sovereign of Nastanovo and ending with his assassination. Other important characters which poised significance to Freire or the period of the Century of Revolutions are included, such as his wife Fátima Velázquez, his close friend and Vice President of Ferdiandia, Carlos Romero and the would be Emperor of Elaklania Manuel Andre Osceola.

Cast

• Juan Manuel Ocampo as Bernardo Freire, the eponymous character
• Franco Piñón as Manuel Andre Osceola, the rival of Freire and a prominent Elaklanian general
• Teresa Martí as Fátima Velázquez-Freire, the wife of Freire
• Tomás Seco as Carlos Romero, the close friend of Freire and Vice President of Ferdinandia
• Arturo Xirau as Christopher Botín, The Isabellan General instructed to put down the Ferdinandian Rebellion
• Jaime Aguayoo as Josué Freire, Bernardo Freire's father, an Isabellan loyalist and plantation owner
• Martin Manzanedo as Dr. Abraham López, an Elaklanian Republican and vocal opponent of Oscola
• David González as Jonatán Montes, An wealthy Elaklanian financicing the Revolution
• Gabriel Palau as Ramon Pliego, another wealthy Nastnovian who finances the Revolution and aids Freire in his bid to become Sovereign/Ensemble
• Jose Manzanares as Román Diego Molina and Jorge Freire, Sovereigntist Nastnovian General/Son of Bernardo Freire
• Dante Saavedra as Rolando Berganza, Bernardo Freire's doctor and Isabellan Spy
• Julia Gisbert as Daniella Barrios, a messenger/Ensemble

Musical numbers

Act I

• "Cesyllian Tides" –
• "Her Tyranny" –
• "Something's Gotta Give" –
• "No King but God" –
• "No man's stood to her!" –
• "Libertad o Muerte" –
• "and so, revolution" –
• "El General" –
• "So may it be" –
• "Outgunned and Outplanned" -
• "Summer of '72" -
• "Bark your orders!" -
• "Reverence" -
• "Northern Expedition" –
• "The Seven Rules of War" –
• "Osceola on the Horizon" –
• "¡Adiós Isabel!" –
• "El Presidente" –
• "Third Time's The Congress (TTTC) -
• "Bring him in!" -
• "The Sister's War" –

Act II

• "Can someone catch me up?" –
• "She Burns" -
• "Tricolor Torn Asunder" –
• "Something's Gotta Give (Reprise)" –
• "The Republic Slumbers" –
• "A King and God" –
• "A Sovereign's Voice" –
• "Serene is Congress" –
• "The Vital Struggle" –
• "Make Them Pay" –
• "Boil over, Eastern Burner" –
• "Of Snakes and like Vultures!" –
• "By the neck." -
• "By Blood and Iron" -
• "A Lion" -
• "Quecarajo" -
• "The Sabre of Ceyslle" -
• "Libertad o Muerte (Reprise)" –
• "A World Undone" –
• "A Sovereign's Voice (Reprise)" –
• "A Sovereign's Duty" –
• "A Sovereign's Farewell" –