Rebel. With director Maria Agui Carter in person. Part of the series Changing the Picture
Dir. Maria Aqui Carter. 2013, 72 mins. Digital projection. Shrouded in mystery and long the subject of debate, the amazing story of Loreta Velazquez is one of the Civil War's most gripping forgotten narratives. Although the United States only recently lifted the ban on women in combat, Velazquez, a Cuban immigrant from New Orleans, was one of the estimated 1.000 women who secretly served as soldiers during the American Civil War. Who was she? Why did she fight? And what made her so dangerous that she has been virtually erased from history? Actors and historians bring Velazquez's story to life in this beautifully directed documentary. Weaving drama and animation with historical and archival material to unravel the mystery of this secret soldier, Rebel is a riveting detective story about a woman, a myth, and the politics of national memory. This exclusive preview screening, prior to the film's broadcast on WNET, will be followed by a conversation with writer/director Maria Agui Carter. Friday, July 19, 7:00 p.m., free admission.