Hi Garrett

Excellent documentary... I really enjoyed it!

On the whole, I think you have produced a very accurate perspective, from a Gibraltarian viewpoint, about the Llanito identity and, wth a huge degree of time constraints, described the history and particularly the political aspects challenging Gibraltar today, relatively well, if perhaps not as broadly as I would have liked to see.

I would have liked to have seen some comment by the incumbent GSD Government. As it stands... the only political view expressed, other than those of my mate Dennis Beiso's (which I must say he does very well), are those of the GSLP/Liberals Opposition parties. This, I think, with all due respect, is not a broad perspective. I assume that the Government was given the opportunity to participate in your documentary? (I will not be surprised to hear if Peter Caruana, no doubt advised by my old school chum Francis Cantos, was not inclined to participate.)

I would also have liked to see some comment from Keith Azopardi and the Progressive Democratic Party. I guess one cannot fit it all in. Hmm... and of course, if one is going to unrestrictedly go for the broadest perspective, no commentary on the politics of Gibraltar can ever be complete, without the British or Spanish Governments' view on the age old question of sovereignty of Gibraltar.

Be that as it may, and appreciating your obvious time (and other possible) constraints, I think the political perspective you've offered in the film is broadly that held by most Gibraltarians.

There are a couple of points you might want to consider amending or reviewing.

1. When describing the Piazza... at one point Tito Vallejo mentions the 'Martillo'. This point is not very clearly explained, no subtitle for the English speaker explaining 'martillo' is a hammer or in this case... the Auctioneer's hammer. This point is not very clear.

2. In your resume of current thinking in Gibraltar, of our political position, you might want to include the very popular catchphrase (at least held my many in Gibraltar since the Joint Sovereignty fiasco) which says:

"Gibraltar belongs to the People of Gibraltar. It is neither Spain's to claim nor Britain's to give away!"

3. Finally... and on a very pedantic point, which I don't think it's feasible for you to re-film... but it's a pity no one corrected my old mate Eric Shaw, when talking about the Queen's visit in '54. On a number of occasions, he referred to the famous British newsreel documentary producers... as 'Path' news! The correct name is Pathé News... which of course, in light of the acute accent over the 'é', is pronounced 'path-ay'! (In fact not British owned... but the British arm of Société Pathé Frères... a French film company... drat what a surprise!). Eric must have missed the lesson on accentuation, during French at school! (C'mon Eric... everybody knows that mate! Just kidding Eric! heh heh :)

Anyhow Garrett, my compliments on a very well produced film. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, and with the slight constructive criticism above notwithstanding, I doff my hat to you buddy... and thank you for a well researched and explained documentary about my homeland. I enjoyed watching it very much!

Saludos! :)