Friday, April 11, 2008

NCPH Screening: The Last Conquistador


Today at the NCPH Conference I saw a terrific new film: The Last Conquistador by John Valdez. The film told the story of the decision by the town of El Paso, Texas to erect what became a 36-foot-high statue of conquistador Juan de Oñate. New Mexican Indians, reflecting on the fact that Oñate had murdered no small number of native men women and children, did not think highly of the plan. The resulting controversy ripped the town apart--and made for a powerful film.

The Last Conquistador will air on PBS this summer.

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