Liborio: a film directed by Nino Martínez Sosa
Liborio is a Dominican film based on the life of Olivorio Mateo Ledesma, a.k.a Papá Liborio (Father Liborio), one of the few messianic figures within Dominican culture, directed by film-maker Nino Martínez. World premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2021, the movie is centred around the uprising of a social-religious movement, Liborism, during the first quarter of the 1900’s in the San Juan province, located in the western side of the Dominican Republic. There Liborio, a peasant who got lost during a hurricane and came 7 days later proclaiming to have received a message from God, and his adepts have built a self-sufficient community, around his figure, which starts to conflict with the local authorities, especially with the occupation regime by US marines, which took place from 1916-1922.
The film, which marks Martínez Sosa’s directorial feature debut, is beautifully shot taking full advantage of the Dominican countryside, its greenery, images, and Afro-Dominican cultural manifestations. Moreover, the script delves into the psyche of a deeply religious culture. Still today, Papa Liborio continues to be a very divisive figure for his story is so intertwined with a mystical allure that for many people he is nothing more than a charlatan, a witch doctor, a pseudo-shaman. For his community, one that stands more than a century after its birth, he is a prophet, a healer, and messenger from God.
In an interview for Variety, Nino Martínez Sosa expressed that “I saw the film as being less about Liborio and a struggle against tyranny, and more through the lens of a religious movement, through the eyes of believers. To describe such a complex thing it is better to attack it from different angles – so we chose seven character archetypes who all revolve around this central figure”.
Liborio is a folk figure of immense depth. His legend carries on through popular songs, comics and in the spirit of many Dominicans who continue to pray and believe in his healing powers. Actually, since his murder by the US troops in 1922, some claim to have seen him wondering around various places on the island. Giving birth to the iconic phrase that represents him like no other: “they say that Liborio is dead… Liborio is not dead at all”.
We invite you to watch the film “Liborio”, which is present in many digital platforms around the globe, and to explore a rather unknown yet unique figure from our culture.
