Reynaldo Pedro Ferrer (JAMIE HARRIS), a former terrorist involved in the independence movement for Puerto Rico, is now living as Ronald Peter. He must confront his past after the murder of his eldest son.
His father Popo (JAIME TIRELLI), a high level
member of a clandestine faction of the movement, is posing as a double agent in order to protect his family and still preserve the group’s quest for freedom.
Still active within the movement is Pedro (COATI MUNDI), a political prisoner who is willing to die for the cause. He secretly assigns
a key operative, Cesar (ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH), to Reynaldo’s son, in an effort to lure Reynaldo back into the movement. Reynaldo must utilize reason, intelligence, and incorporate non-violence in order to avenge his son’s death, save his family from ruin, and come to peace with his past.
I
BELIEVE IN AMERICA is a pilgrimage of this family’s journey and an entire culture.
Reynaldo Pedro Ferrer Born in the Bronx. As a young
idealist, he enlists into a clandestine division of the independence
movement for Puerto Rico known as the “Macheteros” (cane cutters).
Given the inherent danger of being involved in the organization, he
decides to abandon the Movement. Reynaldo changes his allegiance and
decides to go by the name “Ronald Peter” in an effort to distance
himself from the group and its ideals.
Reynaldo has three sons. His eldest, Rodney, is from his first
marriage. The second in age is Tomas, who is his son through marriage
to his current wife Sonia, and the third, Ramon, is Reynaldo’s only
biological child with Sonia. Although “Ronald” now forsakes the
revolution, he finds himself once again involved in its dealings due to
the murder of a family member.
Pedro Born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Pedro
participates in a terrorist act against the U.S. and is ultimately
sentenced to life in prison. He is a high level member of the
Macheteros who continues to manage affairs from his prison cell. Due to
the real and present dangers posed by the FBI, the members of the
Movement must remain anonymous, even to each other. Pedro is one of the
very few with the “anonymous” roster list. He wants Reynaldo back in
the Movement so he assigns his key operative, Cesar, to pursue him.
Raul Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico in 1930.
Along with Popo, he is one of the original group members. Raul is the
mastermind behind the anonymous aspects of the organization. He is a
patient man and a long-term planner who understands that true
independence will not be seen during his lifetime, but that it will
someday be achieved.
Robert “Popo” Ferrer
Also known as “Popo,” Robert was born in
1930 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He is a stalwart revolutionary and one of
the founding members of the “Macheteros.” However, certain betrayals
within the core of the Movement cause Popo to form other allegiances
that could potentially destroy the Macheteros.
Linda Soto
Born in New York City. Goes by “Soto.”
Soto is a second generation White American of Puerto Rican descent. She
is one of Popo’s loyalists who is very high in the echelon of power
within the organization. Soto refuses to change her lifestyle and
abandon the cause for which she’s pledged her life, knowing that a
severe heart condition may number her days.
Rodriguez
Born in Puerto Rico. Rodriguez inherited
his high level position within the organization from his father, who
worked alongside Don Pedro Albizu Campos. He is idealistically at odds
with Popo and his crew.
Velez
Born in Puerto Rico. Velez is a high
level administrator within the organization who craves to be included
within the decision making process. He has high aspirations of leading
his own “crew” someday. His brash style of communication and his
overall arrogance inevitably lead to his downfall.
Carmen
Born in the Bronx. She runs the South
Bronx bar where all secret meetings take place. She is Soto’s protégé;
a woman who is in the direct line of succession to rise to a position of
power within the organization. Carmen follows orders to a tee,
including a complex plot for revenge in which she unknowingly
participates.
Anibal
The “Driver.” Anibal, a Popo loyalist,
was raised in East Harlem, New York City. He believes in the Movement’s
ideology but a series of events is causing him to doubt its leadership.
Cesar
Born in East Harlem. Cesar is a third
generation Black American of Puerto Rican descent. Orphaned at age
three and raised by a female member of the Movement, he was born and
bred to be a revolutionary. Cesar is Pedro’s protégé; he is feared
within the organization for his volatile temper and erratic behavior.
He starts a decadent initiation ritual for new members in order to
satisfy his own insatiable sexual appetite. Cesar’s goal is to rise to
the top of the chain-of-command.
Leo
A true “sergeant” within the Movement.
Leo was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He is part of Cesar’s cell
within the organization. Leo never questions authority and is reliable
and steadfast in his commitment to the cause for an independent Puerto
Rico. Any of his personal commitments and loyalties are second to the
goals of the Macheteros.
Bobby
Born and raised in the Bronx. Bobby is a
true soldier within the organization. He admires Cesar for what he is–a
staunch revolutionary–but does not condone his erratic and careless
behavior. It is feared that his personal loyalties may interfere with
orders from above.
Carmela
Born in East Harlem. Carmela was
orphaned and raised with Cesar. She was born and bred to be a true “Machetera.”
Unbeknownst to all but a few, she is part of the true vein of power
within the structure. In a moment of truth, she must prove her loyalty
to the Movement at great personal and psychological expense.
Rodney Ferrer
A third generation White American of
Puerto Rican descent. He is Reynaldo’s only son with his first wife.
Very much like his father, he is an idealist and a romantic at heart who
gets involved with the Movement, unaware of its catastrophic
consequences. Rodney must hide his activism from his father along with
his sexual preference.
Tomas Ferrer
Tomas is the biological son of Sonia. He
has become estranged from his step-father Reynaldo and feels like an
outsider within his own family. He finds a sense of community and
identity within the Movement. Tomas is not sure whether his interest is
for Puerto Rico or for his own personal curiosities and ambitions.
Ramon
Reynaldo and Sonia’s youngest son. He is
quiet, reserved, yet sees and understands more than others realize.
Unbeknownst to him, he is looked at by certain senior members within the
organization, including his grandfather Popo, as a future political
figure who can lead the Movement.
Glenn
Glenn is a high level FBI agent who will
stop at nothing to figure out the complex web of the Movement’s
structure in an effort to thwart its progress. Her father was also
assigned to this case which frustrated him into retirement. She becomes
personally effected to the point where she decides to go above and
beyond the law to satisfy her own ego.
Richard
Born and raised in Queens, New York.
Richard is a third generation Irish-American. He is a prison guard who
befriends Pedro and learns to appreciate his beliefs. He serves as a
middle-man between Pedro and the outside world. Unbeknownst to Pedro,
Richard is well aware of the intricate operations of the Movement
through his own sources.
???
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Unbeknownst
to all but a very select few, the true “boss.” The mantle of power was
directly passed to ??? from Don Pedro Albizu Campos. ??? is not
concerned with details but dictates policy and imparts it to Raul to be
executed in the most efficient way possible. Don Pedro’s inner circle
of confidants was comprised of women because he was constantly betrayed
by the men.
2007 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL LATINO FILM FESTIVAL July 2007
I BELIEVE IN AMERICA has
been officially selected to the 2007 New York International Latino Film
Festival as one of 15 feature films to be showcased.
Hailed as the “Latin
Sundance,” the New York International Latino Film Festival (“NYILFF”) is the
premier Urban Latino film event in the country. The NYILFF’s mission is to
showcase the works of the hottest emerging Latino filmmaking talent in the
United States and Latin America, offer extensive images of the Latino
experience, and celebrate the diversity and spirit of the Latino community.
Programming includes the flagship film festival in New York City, new music
and art showcases, family and community events, scholarships for aspiring
filmmakers, and a nationally recognized short film competition in
partnership with HBO. The NYILFF is the only film event to have had the
endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s New York City Latin Media and
Entertainment Commission since its formation in 2003.
SCREEN
ACTORS GUILD SPONSORED SCREENING November 2006
Based on
the overall quality of I BELIEVE IN AMERICA, SAG’s Diversity Department has
selected the film for its “An Evening with Diversity: From Script to Screen”
screening event. This event is designed to promote and highlight diversity
through showcasing exemplary projects and have the artistic personnel and
creative collaborators of these projects discuss their perspectives on the
issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. This program serves as a means
for industry decision makers, such as producers and filmmakers, to have
greater exposure to see and hear from underrepresented artists and be
exposed to the many possibilities inherent in diverse approaches to film and
television.
