Audience Member
This is an amazing story of a young Mexican boy mysteriously separated from his family and ends up traveling to California with well known activist . Together they help fight against Mexico's dictatorship. His decendents take you on a fascinating journey in search of how this small boy himself became a man of service and go back to Mexico in search of his lineage.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Who are the people we love, and what are the events that impact their lives? What can we learn personally as well as in a historical context when we bravely inquire into the past?
These are the questions writer/director Walter Dominguez set out to answer for himself in this haunting documentary about his Grandfather, the Reverend Emilio Hernandez in "Weaving the Past-Journey of Discovery". During a time when Mr. Dominguez was questioning the meaning in his own life after his beloved Grandfather's passing, a beautiful, antique image of a man found among Emilio's belongings inspired Mr. Dominguez to inquire further into his Grandfather's background. His initial inquiry leads to a thirteen year journey of personal and historical discovery- from the personal story of Emilio as a young boy who is taken in by a wealthy "Hacendado" family in Mexico, to his friendship and migration to the United States with the "Poet" of the 1910 Mexican Revolution, Praxedis Guerrero, Mr. Dominguez weaves the personal story of his Grandfather with the important historical events that shaped the relationship of two countries- Mexico and the United States- at the turn of the 20th Century.
Using historical photos, beautifully acted vignettes, and superb historical research, Mr. Dominguez draws the viewer into his personal historical drama. And in learning about the characters and events of the Reverend Emilio Hernandez' life, we are also impressed by how the story of one man in historical context continues to inform and challenge us on the issues facing us today-poverty, immigration, and race relations.
I loved this film, not only because it is a beautiful personal story, but because it has inspired me to think and think again about the current challenges we face today in America today. Who do we want to be as a nation? What legacy will we leave for our children? And on a personal level, I love this film because it has inspired me to seek answers to my own questions in the historical context of the people who have inspired and shaped my own life.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
"Weaving the Past: Journey of Discovery" a full-length documentary movingly tells the story of the personal quest of writer/director, Walter Dominguez, as he searched for the story of his late maternal grandfather, Rev. Emilio Hernandez, a Methodist pastor in Santa Paula, California. The story was both intriguing and educational, and narrated by Dominguez, I was pulled into a story about a young child, wandering alone in pre-revolutionary Mexico; a child being taken in by wealthy hacienda owners, cared for and influenced to join into the struggle for the rights of indigenous people; a young man ill and impoverished in Los Angeles; and the transformation of Emilio Hernandez into a Protestant preacher in California.
As a native Californian, I was stunned by how little I was ever taught or learned about our neighboring country, Mexico, and about the lives of those who migrated to and contributed so much to California. Walter Dominguez uses re-enactments, interviews, photos, film journeys, and documents from extensive research to keep this obvious labor of love and atonement fascinating. The documentary has interesting elements for any viewer but especially any Californian, immigrants or their descendants, and lovers of good film. As a retired college administrator, I have recommended "Weaving the Past: Journey of Discovery" to my family and high school and college educators, who are looking for authentic stories of personal courage, perseverance, love, and battles for justice and freedom. Bravo to Walter Dominguez for giving us this story.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/18/23
Full Review
Audience Member
"Weaving the Past" is a lovingly wrought and remarkable film that artfully knits together both the director's journey to discover the true story of his grandfather Emilio's hidden past and his own journey through identity crisis to self discovery.
I loved the quick transitions from current situations in the director's journey to mirroring similar situations his grandfather might have been going through 100 years earlier.
The episodes that detail Emilio's involvement with journalist and revolutionary Práxedis Guerrero and his sometimes violent actions that helped to build momentum for the Mexican Revolution and overthrow of Porfirio Díaz's exploitive, autocratic regime are some of the most fascinating and they put Emilio's life in vivid historical context. It also makes us appreciate Emilio's rescue by a Methodist minister and transformation from revolutionary to man of God all the more. The commentary on the US sometimes covert involvement in the Revolution is also revealing.
The distant family members he meets create a fascinating group portrait that's a multi-faceted reflection of how nature and nurture weave together to make each of us who we are.
There's much to appreciate in Dominguez' film - many story lines and the director's relentless searching for answers propel us forward as they are woven together.
Faith, family, real-life heroes, tragedy and redemption, "Weaving the Past" has it all!
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
Full Review
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