Global Voices

El General

Filmmaker Natalia Almada brings to life audio recordings she inherited about her great-grandfather, General Plutarco Elías Calles, a revolutionary general who became president of Mexico in 1924 but is remembered today as a dictator who was exiled in 1936. The film moves between memories of a woman grappling with history’s portrait of her father and the weight of his legacy on the country today.

Coming to Global Voices: El General

30s

Past and present collide as award-winning filmmaker Natalia Almada brings to life audio recordings she inherited about her controversial great-grandfather Plutarco Elias Calles, a revolutionary general who became Mexico’s president in 1924. Once called “El Jefe Maximo” (the foremost chief), he is more recently remembered as a dictator who ruled through puppet presidents until exiled in 1936.

Previews + Extras

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.