The film "Son of Tiger and Mule" was born from the idea of two filmmakers who presented a script to the Panama Film Fund in 2017 and emerged as winners. The film's production team emphasizes the importance of educating and conveying history, rather than fueling anger. The main purpose is for young people to understand how an area that has always belonged to Panama was usurped through a treaty that no Panamanian signed.
The research was crucial for the project's development, which involved contributions from various entities. The story of the Torrijos-Carter treaties is presented as a struggle in which a small country manages to assert itself against a giant. The film seeks for viewers to follow the plot as if it were fiction, but based on real events.
The documentary addresses the figure of General Torrijos and the importance of the treaties for Panama, highlighting the virtues and controversies surrounding his figure. The production process involved overcoming economic difficulties and searching for archival material. Despite setbacks, the film has been received enthusiastically, especially in a context of political tension between Panama and the United States.
The director of the documentary emphasizes the need for Panamanians to know their history, especially the new generations. The film will premiere in Panama and will later be screened at international festivals. Various personalities linked to the Torrijos-Carter treaties were interviewed, along with farmers who experienced the process from their own perspectives.
The production team managed to create a solid film from an initial script, adapting to the available information and facing economic and logistical obstacles. The documentary is conceived as a narrative that combines different voices and perspectives, seeking to convey the complexity of the historical negotiations. The lack of knowledge about these events in younger generations motivated the making of the film.
Despite the challenges, the team of "Son of Tiger and Mule" persevered in the search for material and the construction of the story. The film presents itself as a necessary account to understand Panama's past and its struggle for sovereignty. The production had an initial budget that was increased, but it is expected to reach international audiences through film festivals and specialized platforms.
