Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a dynamic writer, whose works remain relevant. His contributions to the magical realist genre are undeniable. In the film Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Witch Writing Literature, you get an intimate portrayal of one of the literary world’s most striking figures.
What’s unique about the film is there is no interviewer peppering the writer with questions. We instead are given fifty-three minutes of Marquez himself discussing his upbringing and literary process. While somewhat unconventional, this makes for a more intriguing documentary, as you get a glimpse into the man himself sans outside interference. You’re given a glimpse not into his literary successes but his lesser-known projects, including his stints as a screenwriter, journalist, law school student, and much more.
Where the writer truly shines is his discussion of the writer’s role in society. He speaks of Latin American dictatorships (Marquez himself is Colombian and speaks from experience) and how writers should treat such sordid subjects. His works are analyzed (briefly, but with great effect), and any literary scholar will love to hear the author ruminate on 100 Years of Solitude, Autumn of the Patriarch, and the author’s personal favorite Love in the Time of Cholera. The film is required viewing for any literary scholars, and universities offering courses on Latin American literature.
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