In 2018, on the bicentennial of the Gesta Sanmartiniana, we ventured into the "Cordillera de los Andes" traveling more than 120 km on horseback for 8 days, following the steps that marked the history of the continent.
With the desire to know in person the path that General San Martín's army took in its liberating deed, a small group of people with no previous experience, decided to venture into the "Andes Mountains" following the "Camino de los Patos" for more than 8 days and traveling more than 120 km on horseback. Upon returning, emotionally mobilized by the experience and with the aim of disseminating the Gesta Sanmartiniana, when reviewing the audiovisual material generated on the trip, the need arose to share it. This is how the documentary "Huellas de Libertad" by Ariel Fathala was born. In addition to recording the journey in the first person as if it were a travel diary, it is interesting to see the emotional aspects that the protagonists go through during the journey and the challenges they face in this beautiful adventure. Likewise, the historical information and the graphic animations with the layout of the route, bring the viewer closer to forming an experiential idea about the heroic deed of San Martín.—Violeta Antinarelli
The story behind "Huellas de Libertad" shows, with a different and more emotional perspective, the dimension of the Liberating Deed of General San Martín, 200 years after the feat. All the images were filmed in the first person with cell phones and semi-professional cameras, as well as the testimonies and comments were generated on the spot without a previous script, initially with the intention that they be just travel memories.The experience of crossing the "Cordillera de los Andes" through the same place that San Martín did, resignifies and recovers the enormous nobility of those who dared to cross it with the aim of liberating the continent, fighting for national freedom.After a while, reviewing all the material generated and reviving the dimension of the experience, the need arose to share it through this story.In January 1817, from "El Plumerillo" in the province of Mendoza in Argentina, the Army of the Andes began its march with the challenge of crossing the "Cordillera de los Andes" and ensuring the independence of the continent.Based on a complex and detailed plan, José de San Martín organized and distributed his army into six columns, where each one crossed through different places, following a coordinated strategy, and sweeping an extensive area of mountains from north to south.They all had to face and overcome their own challenges with the same objective of meeting again on the other side of the mountain range, in Chilean territory, to surprise the enemy from various fronts.The most difficult and risky crossing of all was the one led in person by General San Martín, known as the "Camino de los Patos". His column, after a few days of travel, reached the area known as "Manantiales", where he waited to reorganize the entire army, regrouping it into three main blocks.From there they restarted their march, entering the heart of the mountain range.The protagonists of this film, without previously meeting in person, were able to form a team, which had as a common factor, the fervent admiration of these events.Once installed in "Manantiales", they also had to reorganize.With reduced logistics and a baggage only of adventure and passion, they faced the challenge.Follow the footsteps that made history.
