La Reina de Indias y el Conquistador

This historically based romantic drama in Spanish has helped me to relive and relearn those epic days of the conquest of the New World by Spanish explorers and adventurers. This period piece is well acted and reflects true-to-life characterizations, not only by the female protagonist Catalina "la India," (played by Essined Aponte) but also by her lover Pedro Heredia (played by Emmanuel Esparza). Although it is a fictional tale, it has several historical personages, not least of which is Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, a champion of the rights of the aboriginals found in the Tierra Incognita/Nuevo España. Spain had only recently expelled non-Christians from their country and unified it. Nevertheless, to pay their soldiers and continue fighting their continental battles, they needed gold. This commodity drove nobles, adventurers, soldiers, and later the monarchs' agents to seek their fortunes and rule the lands of the "Indians" under the flag of the Christian monarchs of Europe. Atrocities were committed justified by the conquerors' conviction of the inferiority of the people they encountered. At the same time, they marveled at some of the cultures who were no match for Spain's superior arms, strategies, and tactics, although many fewer in numbers. Enjoy the tale while improving your Spanish.