Private Project

One Man's fight for freedom

Trying to make up for 10 years lost fighting in the guerrilla in his native Colombia, Francisco fell into heavy drinking then alcoholism when he came to Britain 14 years ago. Two failed marriages and several jobs later he is fighting a battle with booze and himself.

This film follows the 41-year-old through his detox programme, set against a backdrop of recent unemployment and the threat of eviction as he sets out to make a new life in his adopted country and reflects on his past lives as a guerrilla fighter, cycle and motorcycle courier, caretaker and handyman at the exclusive Harbour Club in Chelsea, west London.

  • Julio César Osorio
    Director
  • Marcus Relton
    Writer
  • Julio César Osorio
    Producer
  • Francisco Javier Grisales Rios
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 23, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Julio César Osorio

Julio trained as a photographer and digital artist at degree level in London, UK and worked as a freelance photographer till 2012 when after being assaulted by a bouncer in a nightclub, he ended up in prison for a period of two and a half years where he taught himself how to paint and since then has had several solo exhibitions in London where he is based.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My passion since being a youngster has been to tell stories that are factual, using the power of the moving image.

This is my first documentary and one that I would love to expand on by traveling to Colombia and looking at other families that have been affected by the fifty year conflict, and capture the countries feeling on the first ever peace deal signed by the FARC and the present president, but that has encountered opposition from the corrupt ex president and paramilitary founder Alvaro Uribe.