Movie portrays events that riveted the world
By Lourdes Quijada
If you are suffering from a slight case of movie overload after the conclusion of the week long International Film Festival, take a breather, but mark your calendar for a free showing of a major historical movie.
The cataclysmic events depicted in All the President’s Men cast a shadow over the US political scene, but also graphically illustrate the value of dedicated investigative reporting, something that politicians and those on the wrong side of the law, which often leads to repressive tactics to quieten the voice of The Fourth Estate, something that is becoming an increasing concern in many countries in Latin America where journalists have been prosecuted, fired, fined or killed.
All the President’s Men tells the story of the run-up to the 1972 elections, when Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward covers what seems to be a minor break-in at the Democratic Party National headquarters.
He is surprised to find top lawyers already on the defense case, which arouses his suspicions. The editor of the Post assigns reporters Woodward (Robert Redford) and Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) to dig deeper. They find the trail leading higher and higher and eventually into the White House itself
The film is based on the real-life story of the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation and introduced a new suffix to the English language. “Gate” continues to be tacked on to nouns to create a word identified with scandal and corruption.
The movie, in English with Spanish sub-titles will be showing at the Canal Museum on Tuesday, May 15, at 7 pm, courtesy of the Cultural section of the U.S. Embassy. It’s a free performance and cookies and soft drinks are at hand prior to the screening, so pop in early, as seating is limited.
