In 2014, the director, also Mexican, Santiago Esteinou, made a first documentary Fierro’s years on the trajectory of this prisoner and his arbitrary incarceration. After seventeen dates of possible executions, his death sentence is canceled. Caesar is miraculously released in full confinement and deported directly from the United States to Mexico. This work of reconstruction and efforts to overcome the fear of a new world is the subject of a second documentary Iron Freedom presented at Ramdam.
We met the pair a few hours before the screening. “Did you put your phone on silent? Wait, I’ll do it.”Santiago indicates to César while at the same time adjusting the collar of his sweater. As highlighted above… A father and a son.
Santiago, can you explain what inspired you to make the first documentary?
I finished my studies in Philadelphia at the age of 27. At that time, there was a legal case in Mexico called the Avena case. It was a dispute between Mexico and the United States. The Mexican government blamed America for locking up 52 Mexicans without any access to consular assistance that could have prevented the death sentence. It seemed like an interesting subject, but I couldn’t make a documentary about all 52 people. Reading Caesar’s portrait, I tried to contact him through the consulate.
And you accepted, Caesar?
I wondered if it was a good idea and when I saw Santiago, I thought he looked nice, so I agreed (laughs).
Santiago, did this friendship help you make the second film?
Caesar is my friend so what could I do? Either I could put the friendship aside and then be another filmmaker, or I could honor it and continue doing this work. The question did not arise.
They look like two people from the same family when we look at you. It’s no longer a filmmaker and his protagonist. How do you define your relationship?
César : No matter who asks me the question, I answer that he is like my son, my best friend, because we get along very well.
Santiago : It is also important to me. We met for the first film shot between 2009 and 2014. Then, we decided to continue to communicate by letter once or twice a month. I also got involved in the team that defends Caesar. When I learned of his release, I said to myself that it might be interesting to make another documentary about it. We could never have thought that this would be done in the context of a pandemic.
Was this an intermediate passage for you, Caesar?
The pandemic helped me. This made it easier for me to adapt.
How did you feel on death row?
What worried me the most was being able to console my mother during each execution date. She visited me, but she was in tears every time. Both my mother and I were going through hard times.
-When you were locked up, Caesar, did you think of anything to do once you were free?
I didn’t have a specific plan, because I didn’t know exactly if I was ever going to go out. I knew I wanted to travel, visit Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Brazil. But hey, if I was released, I especially needed to know how to get money back.
How did you manage to get it in your situation?
I had friends in Europe and I also received money from the Mexican consulate. When I was released, the prison kept everything. I only received it three months later.
Do you remember the first breath of air?
No. When I left the prison, I was just told to walk straight to the border. I just felt fear, because I had nothing. (Being in the covid period, Santiago hosted César in an apartment located in Mexico City).
Keeping silent was a strategy in prison to avoid problems, does it cost you to speak again?
I’m rather a quiet person. Talking with Santiago’s friends, I found it pleasant. Now, whenever I can speak, I do.
What did you have to relearn?
The world had changed enormously when I left and what put me and still puts me in difficulty is my phone. This is the second one I have and I still can’t figure out all the options or use it properly.
Do you feel angry that these years were stolen from you?
People have hurt me, but I have forgiven them. I prefer to move forward and not look back. Of course, there are always memories that come back, but I try not to think about the negative.
Was there any form of reparation, Santiago?
The documentary helped in legal advances. César filed a complaint for violation of his human rights with the Mexican Supreme Court. When he was arrested by Texas police, his mother and stepfather were also imprisoned by Mexican police. Through this arrest, Caesar was pressured into signing a confession, but there was no evidence of his guilt. Last year, the human rights commission acknowledged all the facts and made a recommendation for reparations. These consisted of several things: a public apology from the Mexican state, a street or park in the name of Caesar, psychological and psychiatric treatment necessary for his supported recovery, damages and a police instructed in relation in the case of Caesar. Nothing has been put in place in all these years, but we do not lose hope.
If you had to rewrite the Caesar story, what would it be like?
When I was married, I had a daughter. That was the only one of my concerns. I had taken cooking lessons because I would have liked to be a great chef.
