Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay
This docudrama premiered in 2013. The topic is the unusual and tumultuous life of the Irish-born woman Eliza Lynch who lived and died in the nineteenth century. Here is some basic information about this product:
** Writer and director: Alan Gilsenan (born 1962)
** Based on the book The Lives of Eliza Lynch: Scandal and Courage by Ronan Fanning and Michael Lillis (2009)
** Languages spoken: English, Spanish, and Portuguese
** Subtitles: English
** Run time: 85 minutes
This docudrama is divided into twelve chapters which follow a chronological line from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century. Here are the headlines:
# 01. Hunger
# 02. Innocence
# 03. Love
# 04. Journey
# 05. Mother
# 06. Queen
# 07. War
# 08. Fall
# 09. Death
# 10. Aftermath
# 11. Rebirth
# 12. Epilogue
A docudrama is a combination of two elements:
(1) A documentary film where several persons are invited to talk about a certain topic.
(2) A movie where historical scenes are dramatized by several actors. In this case, there is only one actress who plays the role of Eliza Lynch.
The Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy plays the role of the adult Eliza Lynch. As Eliza Lynch, she talks to us about her life. She explains what is happening and how she feels about the situation.
The young Eliza Lynch is played by Leryn Franco in a few clips.
Many persons are interviewed in the documentary part of the product. Here are the names of the participants. Listed in the order of appearance:
** Ronan Fanning (1941-2017) – an Irish historian and co-author of a book about Eliza Lynch published in 2009
** Michael Lillis – an Irish diplomat and co-author of a book about Eliza Lynch
** Conor McEnroy – chairman, Sudameris Bank
** Luis Véron – a historian
** Guido Rodriguez Alcala – a journalist
** Esteban Burt – a lawyer
** Miguel A. Solano Lopez – a descendant of Eliza Lynch and Francisco Solano Lopez – ambassador of Paraguay
** Jorge Francisco Ramirez – a Paraguayan general
** Jorge Rubiani – an architect and an author
** Francisco Doratioto – a professor of history
** Federico Franco (born 1962) – vice-president of Paraguay 2008-2012, president of Paraguay 2012-2013
*****
This docudrama focuses on the life of Eliza Lynch and the people around her. The story of her life is told in great detail.
Different opinions about historical persons and events are discussed by the persons who are interviewed.
Here is a timeline of her life:
Eliza Lynch is born in Ireland in 1833. According to some sources, she is born in 1834 or 1835, but as far as I know, 1833 is the correct year.
In 1845, Ireland is hit by the great famine. Her father dies in 1846. After his death, Eliza and her mother leave Ireland and move to France. Eliza and her mother live in Paris.
In 1850, Eliza meets a man who is a soldier in the French army. They have a relationship and she follows him when he is stationed in Algeria, a French colony 1830-1848 and an integral part of France 1848-1962.
According to some sources, Eliza is married to the French soldier. According to other sources, this is not true.
If there is a wedding ceremony, it is not performed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the French army. In other words: there is no marriage.
The relationship does not work out. In 1853, Eliza returns to Paris.
In 1854, she meets Francisco Solano Lopez who is from Paraguay. His father is the president of Paraguay. He has had this position since 1844.
Francisco is in France in order to study military science and to train with the French army, but he also has some free time for entertainment.
Francisco is born in 1827. He is six years older than Eliza. According to some sources, he is born in 1826, but as far as I know, 1827 is the correct year.
Eliza and Francisco become friends and lovers. In 1855, they separately cross the Atlantic Ocean and land in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Eliza is pregnant with her first child. She remains alone in Argentina until her first son Panchito is born. Francisco joins her in Buenos Aires and they travel together to Asuncion, Paraguay.
Francisco is not allowed to marry Eliza, because she is from Ireland and because she is not a member of the local upper class.
Francisco installs her in a separate mansion and he often goes to visit her. He is supposed to marry a daughter of a prominent Paraguayan family, but this never happens.
Eliza gives birth to six additional children. One of them (Leopoldo) dies as an infant. The first child (Panchito) is killed in the war when he is fifteen years old. But five children live long enough to become adults.
In 1862, Francisco’s father dies and Francisco succeeds him as president of Paraguay.
Eliza and Francisco are still not married, but she is now regarded as the unofficial first lady of Paraguay. She is sometimes described as the Queen of Paraguay.
The first two years of Francisco’s reign are not highly controversial, but in 1864 he makes a fatal decision which changes the lives of many people, including his own life and the life of his mistress Eliza.
He declares war on Brazil. In 1865, Brazil is supported by Argentina and Uruguay. Now Paraguay is at war with three countries. This is why this conflict is known as the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870).
Obviously, Paraguay cannot win this war. In 1868, the capital Asuncion is captured by Brazil. The war might have ended at this point, but it does not happen, because Francisco refuses to surrender.
He disappears into the rural area with a small group of supporters and tries to continue the struggle against the enemy.
Eliza is with him as he tries to fight against the enemy. He cannot win this war. In 1870, he and his small army are finally defeated. He still refuses to surrender. He is killed. His oldest son Panchito, who is with him, is also killed. This is the end of a brutal and bloody war.
According to some estimates, Paraguay has lost 50 percent of its total population and 70 percent, perhaps even 80 percent, of its male adult population.
Eliza survives the war, but she is not allowed to remain in Paraguay. She is deported. She returns to Europe. At first, she is in London; later, she is in Paris.
In 1875, she travels to Paraguay. She arrives in Asuncion. She is there to claim the property she owned while she was living in Paraguay. But the stay in the capital is brief.
She is arrested. She is told that her property has been confiscated by the new government.
She is told that she is regarded as an enemy and she is ordered to leave the country at once.
After this brief visit to Paraguay, she returns to her home in Paris where she lives for the remaining part of her life. When she dies in 1886, she is buried in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery.
For many years, Eliza and Francisco are regarded as villains. He is blamed, because he began a war which caused death and destruction. She is blamed, because she stood by him until the end of his life.
But the story of Eliza and Francisco is not over yet.
Alfredo Stroessner, who rules Paraguay for more than thirty years (1954-1989), decides that the past has been misunderstood. In 1961, he makes a special arrangement with the government of France:
The remains of Eliza are exhumated and then they are transported across the Atlantic Ocean to Paraguay. In Asuncion, the remains of Eliza are deposited in a small memorial monument.
From 1961, she is no longer regarded as a villain. She is regarded as a heroine who supported her partner in life.
A similar transformation happens to Francisco Solano Lopez. He is no longer hated and vilified. He is called a hero who fought for his country and who eventually gave his life for his country.
Different observers have different views. Some observers may still regard Eliza and Francisco as villains, while other observers regard them as heroes of Paraguay.
When the President of Paraguay Federico Franco is asked about his opinion, he says: heroes should not be investigated. Paraguay has heroes. Francisco Solano Lopez is a hero in Paraguay.
*****
What do reviewers say about this docudrama?
Here are three answers:
** 77 percent = IMDb
** 70 percent = Hayes at the Movies
** 34 percent = Reelgood
The ratings are mixed, as you can see. If you ask me, I will say that the first two ratings are quite fair, while the third rating is far too harsh.
Whether Eliza Lynch is regarded as a villain or a heroine, the story of her life is interesting. It deserves to be told, and in this docudrama, it is done quite well.
In my opinion, this product deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent).
REFERENCES
Eliza Lynch: Regent of Paraguay
By Henry Lyon Young
(1966) (197 pages)
Madame Lynch and Friend: The True Account of an Irish Adventuress and the Dictator of Paraguay Who Destroyed That American Nation
By Alyn Brodsky
(1976) (more than 300 pages)
The Empress of South America
By Nigel Cawthorne
(2003) (more than 300 pages)
The Lives of Eliza Lynch: Scandal and Courage
By Ronan Fanning and Michael Lillis
(2009) (252 pages)
Madame Lynch of Paraguay
By Leah Moorefield Evans
(2016) (48 pages)
*****
Eliza Lynch
(1833-1886)
*****
Francisco Solano Lopez
(1827-1870)
*****
Memorial monument for Eliza Lynch
in Asuncion, Paraguay
*****
