Hard facts about Magellan’s life are limited, but stories about his heroic deeds are often widespread. Meanwhile, Díaz’s Magellan unflinchingly observes what we know about the treatment of the crew of the Armada de Marco, including executing one of the crew members on suspicion of sodomy and leaving behind the priest Pedro Sánchez de Reina due to growing paranoia. There were repeated mutinies, and in November 1520 one of the five ships in the fleet, san antonioThe entire crew abandoned the mission.
Magellan may have felt compelled to inflict such a severe punishment out of fear, since by fleeing his country he had become an outcast in both Portugal and Spain. “Magellan had the handicap of not being Castilian, which reduced his authority over the Castilian nobility,” João Paulo Oliveira e Costa, a history professor at the University of Lisbon, told the BBC. “His Castilian captains were aiming to seize control of the expedition. Punishments had to be brutal to deter a new rebellion. If Magellan had not killed them, they would have killed him.”
Díaz’s biopic also foregrounds the colonial violence inflicted by Magellan and his men. when they landed in Guam Then a small boat was stolen, and the sailors took bloody revenge. indigenous communityset fire to houses. Communities in Malacca and the Philippines were also subjected to similar atrocities. However, it is different from other films depicting colonial violence. Nightingale (2018) or Soldier Blue (1970)Díaz’s portrayal avoids explosive and potentially exploitative behavior. “Magellan’s story is an epic one,” he explains. “But I didn’t want to do it the traditional way. [with] That scene…I was at a police scene when I was a young reporter, and I could only see the aftermath, not the act. There is disrespect for humanity [portraying] That’s for me. ”
Despite Magellan’s flaws, Diaz had no interest in demonizing him. “I wanted to see real characters,” Diaz insists. “Real people are ambitious. [and] Dreams are not just for yourself and your family. Magellan believed wholeheartedly in the Christian faith. ” Magellan is widely considered to be the first European to make contact with the Philippines, as well as being responsible for introducing Catholicism to the region. The statue of the Santo Niño, which Magellan gave to the local chieftain Rajah Humabon and is credited with miraculous recovery of sick children in his community, “remains the country’s greatest symbol,” Diaz says. 93% of the population In the Philippines, we are Christians.
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com
