Estimados Señores
[English title: Dear Gentlemen]
This historical drama about the campaign for the female vote in Colombia premiered in 2024. Here is some basic information about it:
** Writer, producer and director: Patricia Castañeda
** Language: Spanish
** Subtitles: English
** Run time: 102 minutes
The cast includes the following:
** Juliet Restrepo as Esmeralda Arboleda (1921-1997)
** Paula Castaña as Josefina Valencia (1913-1991)
** Barbara Perea as Bertha Ospina (1907-1993)
** Victoria Ortiz as Maria Currea (1890-1985)
** Marcela Mar as Teresa Santamaria de Gonzalez (1897-1985)
** Claudio Cataño as Ortiz Gonzalez (1911-1990)
** Mario Jurado as Enrique Santos Castillo (1917–2001)
** Jairo Camargo as general Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (1900–1975)
** Luis Alberto as Felix Angel
*****
Since this historical drama is based on a true story, the basic facts are part of the public record. They are not a secret. This is why I feel free to mention some of them here.
While this historical drama is based on a true story, it is not a documentary film. It is a dramatised version of reality.
Not everything happened as shown here. Some details may have been altered, added or excluded for practical purposes or dramatic reasons. But the basic story is true.
*****
The story of this historical drama is set in 1954 when Columbia has a military dictatorship.
The ruler is Gustavo Rojas Pinilla who comes to power by a military coup d'état in 1953. He holds onto this power until 1957.
In 1954, female activists like Esmeralda and Josefina are conducting a campaign for the female vote.
Only men are allowed to vote in Columbia. The women want to change this situation, but it is difficult for them to get the attention of people who matter. Many politicians listen to them and then brush them off by saying that they understand but “now is not the right time!”
One day, Esmeralda and Josefina manage to meet general Rojas Pinilla face to face. They urge him to introduce the female vote. They say he must do this, because Columbia is a member of the United Nations, and as such the country has a duty to allow both men and women to vote.
The general says he will consider their request.
The Colombian politicians are working on a new constitution. The general says the question of the female vote will be considered when a new constitution is drafted.
A special committee is established to consider the female vote.
Having discussed the question, the committee must make a recommendation to the National Constituent Assembly, which will meet later in the year.
Most of this historical drama is focused on the discussion in this political committee.
All members are men.
Esmeralda and Josefina are present. They are joined by Bertha Ospina and Maria Currea.
The women are allowed to observe the discussion. They are not allowed to join the discussion.
But when one of the members make an outrageous statement, the women cannot remain silent. They have to protest. They are told to be quiet. They are quiet, until the next outrageous statement. And so it goes for a while.
When the meeting ends, the members conclude that the female vote must eventually be introduced. But the committee does not say when this should happen.
Later in the year 1954, the National Constituent Assembly is convened.
During the time before the assembly convenes, general Rojas Pinilla is under pressure from liberals and conservatives who say he should appoint a women to be a member of the assembly.
The general appoints Josefina. But the public is not satisfied. They say a second woman should be appointed to be a member of the assembly.
The general who wants to please the public, appoints Esmeralda. This is the reason why Josefina and Esmeralda are both members of the assembly when it convenes in August 1954.
Josefina and Esmeralda are the first two women to be members of an official political institution in Colombia.
When the assembly begins its work, the question of the female vote is the first item on the agenda.
At this moment in time, the male opposition to the female vote has become a clear minority.
The majority of the members support the introduction of the female vote.
Esmeralda and Josefina are regarded as heroes, because they organised a successful campaign to secure the female vote.
Three years later, in 1957, when the military dictatorship of general Rojas Pinilla ends, Colombia holds the first national election in which women are allowed to cast a vote.
*****
What do reviewers say about this historical drama? Here are some answers:
** 68 percent = Letterboxd
** 75 percent = IMDb
** 75 percent = Mabumba
The ratings are quite good, as you can see. I understand the numerous positive reviews and I agree with them. But I cannot go all the way to the to the top. This historical drama is good but not great.
What is wrong?
There are some flaws:
# 1. The director does not reveal that the women’s movement is divided into two distinct groups:
The first group supports the military dictatorship of general Rojas Pinilla and is prepared to work with him. Josefina is a prominent member of this group. She represents the Conservative party in the National Constituent Assembly
The second group is opposed to the military dictatorship and does not want to work with the general. Esmeralda is a prominent member of this group. She represents the Liberal party in the National Constituent Assembly.
# 2. The director does not tell us what happened to Josefina and Esmeralda after the victory in 1954.
Both women became politicians.
Both had a remarkable career.
Josefina was governor of Cauca 1955–1956. She was the first female governor of a province. Josefina was minister of education 1956–1957. She was the first female member of the government.
Esmeralda continued her criticism of the military government after the victory in 1954. She was harassed. Her husband Uribe was fired just to put pressure on her.
One day, some men tried to kidnap her while she was standing outside her mother's flower shop. They did not succeed, but this episode convinced her that she had to leave the country. She went into exile in the US.
In 1958, when the military dictatorship was over, she returned to Columbia. She ran for public office.
She was a member of the Senate 1958–1961. She was the first female Senator. She was minister of communication 1961–1962. She was the Colombian ambassador in Austria 1966–1968
# 3. There are many characters in this historical drama. It is not always easy for the viewer to know who is who.
A few characters are presented with name and title. One example is general Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.
But many characters are not presented with name and title. The viewers want to know who is who and how they are connected with each other.
The director could have solved this problem by adding an on-screen message the first time each character appears on the screen. Sadly, this easy and obvious solution was not used.
*****
The story of the campaign for the female vote in Colombia is important. In this historical drama it is told quite well. But there are some flaws which cannot be ignored.
In my opinion, this product deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent).
REFERENCE
Rania Woodward,
“Estimados Señores honors the women who changed Colombia,”
The Loyola Phoenix
16 April 2025
*****
La lucha
de unas
cambió
la historia
de todas
*****
The struggle of a few women
changed the history of all women
*****
