简介：讲述厄瓜多尔独立战争的故事。 Ecuador'sthwartedfirststabatgainingindependencefromSpainisdramatizedinthe"1809-1810:BeforeDawn."Capablymountedbutabittoobloodless,costumerisawatchablehistorylessonlackingtheemotionalorstylisticpunchneededtotemptoffshoretheatricaltakers.Nonetheless,itrepsanattractivepickupforSpanish-languagebroadcasters. Hopingotherprovinceswillfollowsuit,revolutionistsinQuitohandtheirdeclarationofindependencetotheViceroy'slocalrepresentative.Militaryre-enforcementspromptlytakeahundredrebelsprisoners.Whiletheyawaitexecution,othersinhidingcontinueurgingdissent,helpedbyoutsiders--includingsympatheticCatholicclergy,widowedscholarPedro(AristidesVargas)andthelatter'ssolefemalestudentJudit(MariluVaca),amixed-racepainter'sdaughterwhosenutjobhusbandgotthrownintojailwiththerebels.SheandPedro--amostuninspiringMay-Decemberromanticduo--realizetheirloveamidincreasinglyriskysituations,nottheleasttheclosescrutinyofgenteelbutcrown-loyalCol.Arredondo(GonzaloGonzalo),whoalsohasthehotsforJudit.Tragictaleisdecentlyproducedandacted,buthelmerCamiloLuzuriaga's("LaTigra")too-steadyhandmissesampleopportunitiestocrankupdramaticurgency.…