This Thursday, the movie premiered First Alidirected by Daniel Yegres, in Venezuelan movie theaters; however, The family of the Venezuelan composer did not like the film‘s representation of the poet and political activist.
Through a statement released by the Alí Primera Foundation and signed by the sons, daughters and widow of the singer-songwriter, The Primera family expressed their opinion on how the film portrays the life and work of the musician.
“In this open letter we, the daughters, sons and wife of Alí Primera, are gathered together, with the simplest aspiration of informing and clarifying our feelings regarding the film called First Aliwhich will be released today in Venezuelan movie theaters,” begins the statement published on Thursday.
Since it became known that a film would be developed about the life and work of the musician, two years ago, Alí Primera’s family received the news with great joy and actively participated in its development by sharing their expectations, visions and opinions regarding the film..
“Our main interest became clear, which we have been taking care of since dad changed landscape: preserve his historical memory, protect his image, his figure, the life work and the historical legacy of this Venezuelan and universal character. We wanted it not to be cornered in a single place within the political-partisan situation of the country, so that this work could reach everywhere,” the statement says.
The Primera family did a first reading of the script and requested some important changes so that the film would have their endorsement, but they were not made.. “Just two weeks ago we were able to see Ali’s family the film in question, limiting the time and possibility of taking into account family impressions regarding some correction of substance and form. Thus, successively, a large part of the opinions of Alí Primera’s daughters, sons and wife were ignored in the post-production process, and even in the decision to release the film,” the letter adds.
Regarding the representation of Alí Primera in adulthood, The family considers that, far from what he was, they show him as “an empty comedian, without content, without depth.”. “We are concerned that in the film we see many narrative elements that move away from the true representation of the real character that is intended to be exposed, in terms of the final characterization of the character. Result: a work that blurs Alí Primera himself in several aspects.”
Despite their disagreement with many aspects of the film, the musician’s family highlights the human effort that made the filming possible, especially the work of boys and girls. “We rescued from the final work great photography, landscapes, colors, great performances, and a beautiful infant Ali (in two stages), closer to his life.”
Writing The National
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**Interview with María Primera, Daughter of Alí Primera**
**Editor:** Good afternoon, María. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the premiere of “First Ali.” Your family’s statement regarding the film has certainly sparked interest. Can you share with us your main concerns about how Alí was represented in the film?
**María Primera:** Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. Our primary concern is that the film does not capture the essence of my father’s life as a whole. While we appreciate the effort to tell his story, we feel that it has reduced him to a mere political figure instead of presenting him as the multifaceted artist, poet, and activist he truly was.
**Editor:** That’s a profound point. You mentioned in your statement that your family participated in the film’s development. Can you elaborate on what kind of involvement you had?
**María Primera:** Yes, we were genuinely excited when we first learned about the film. We hoped it would honor my father’s legacy, so we shared our insights, expectations, and opinions about how we believed his life and work should be represented. We wanted to ensure that the portrayal would encompass not only his political activism but also his passion for music and the universal messages he conveyed through his songs.
**Editor:** It sounds like you had high hopes for the film. What do you feel was lacking in the final product that led to your disappointment?
**María Primera:** The film seems to have focused too heavily on a specific political perspective, which oversimplifies my father’s complex identity. His poetry and music transcended politics; they touched on love, social justice, and the human experience as a whole. We wanted the film to celebrate him as a universal character, not just someone confined to Venezuela’s political narrative.
**Editor:** That’s understandable. What do you hope audiences will take away from your family’s statement?
**María Primera:** We hope that audiences will understand the importance of preserving the historical memory of Alí Primera as an artist, not just as a political symbol. We want people to recognize the depth of his work and its relevance beyond the political landscape, and to see him for the profound influence he had on music and culture, both in Venezuela and worldwide.
**Editor:** Thank you, María, for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us today. It’s essential to honor the full legacy of artists like your father. We appreciate your time.
**María Primera:** Thank you for having me and for the opportunity to speak about my father’s legacy.
