The Medellin Cartel

The topic of the Medellin Cartel is complicated and sensitive. Over the years, I have noticed how visitors to Medellin are far less concerned with safety levels in the city and in Colombia in general than back in 2000 which is when I first arrived.

History is opinion in many ways and created by those who write it. Therefore, I do not claim to be objective on the topics of the Medellin cartel, the violence that occurred, and to some extent still occurs, in this city nor on Pablo Escobar.

However, my wife grew up here and recently I completed a film about her life called, DEAR LINA. In making the film, it became clear to us both that to not touch upon the violence she experienced in her childhood would be to leave out a fundamental cornerstone of her personal story.

In some ways, when I first arrived here I wanted to deny the truth about the atrocities that have happened and to paint the city a rosy pink. I think it's possible to take the good with the bad, perhaps learn from what's happened, to accept the truth of it and how in a very real way, Medellin is still carrying the deep wounds of her past.

People here often avoid speaking of their experiences but the closer you look, the more you will realize that everyone, of at least a certain age, has scars from the past.

Recently my film was shown here at the Centro Colombo Americano and the cinema was completely full. Feedback from the audience touched on an initial negative reaction to the mention of Escobar, but as the film progressed, the vast majority of the audience who's feedback I have received, said that they related to the stories portrayed and that the film gave them hope.

I hope that I can write on this topic with the respect and care it deserves. Eventually, my film will be for sale here on the site but first DVDs need to be made and some other logistic elements need to be sorted out. The film tells the story of one's person, my wife, and her memories of growing up in Medellin. It's a subjective account.

I have chosen to use the name, "Medellin Cartel", to describe the major topic that I will look at here. It might not be the perfect description but I'm not entirely sure what alternative is better. Often the era is referred to in Spanish as La Violencia.



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