Fernando Vallejo
Encyclopedia
Fernando Vallejo Rendón is a novelist, filmmaker and essayist, born in Colombia. He obtained Mexican nationality in 2007.
Vallejo was born and raised in Medellín, though he left his hometown early in life. He started studies in Philosophy at the National University of Colombia
in Bogotá
, but after one year he abandoned the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. Soon after he began new studies on biology at the Universidad Javeriana
in Bogotá, which he finished. Then he spent one year in Italy at the film academy Cinecittá, where he obtained basic notions on cinema
.
Vallejo then returned to Colombia with the project of filmmaking. Yet after difficulties with the Colombian Government in producing and, after he produced it, in presenting his first film (it was censored), he decided to leave his country.
In Mexico he produced and distributed three films about the violence in Colombia. He also wrote an award-winning children's theater script, "El reino misterioso o Tomás y las abejas." He has been living in Mexico
since 1971, where he not only produced his cinematographic pieces, but also the whole of his literary work. Despite time spent in other locales, mainly Europe
and the United States
, most of his novel
s take place in Colombia. Some of his themes are grammar, biology, philosophy, physics, violence
, pederasty
, adolescence
, drug
s, death
and politics, mostly related to places such as Antioquia
and Medellín
; yet his main theme is his life. His books are written in first person, in an autobiographical style.
His best-known novel, La virgen de los sicarios
, has been translated into English as Our Lady of the Assassins. It deals with his fictionalized return to Medellín, and his relationships with two teenagers caught in the local cycle of violence. The autobiographical/fiction La virgen de los sicarios was made into a full feature film in 2000 and released in the United States
as Our Lady of the Assassins.
In 2003, Colombian filmmaker Luis Ospina made a feature-length documentary about him: "La desazón suprema: retrato incesante de Fernando Vallejo ("The Supreme Uneasiness: Incessant Portrait of Fernando Vallejo").
In April 2007, Vallejo obtained Mexican citizenship and published a letter in which he publicly renounced his Colombian nationality. The letter presents the reasons for his decision by mentioning several incidents during his career, among them the recent reelection of President Uribe, that eventually led him to this decision.
Vallejo is openly gay and lives with his partner, scenographist David Antón.
He received the Rómulo Gallegos Prize
in 2003, one of the most prestigious prizes for Literature
in the Spanish language for El desbarrancadero and, protesting the political climate in Venezuela, donated the cash from the award to Caracas's dogs.
Acceptance speech at the Romulo Gallegos prize, in Spanish:
http://www.analitica.com/bitblio/fernando_vallejo/discurso_romulo_gallegos.asp
Two hours of a very open interview in Spanish, on Caracol Radio,
10/27/2006
Vallejo was born and raised in Medellín, though he left his hometown early in life. He started studies in Philosophy at the National University of Colombia
National University of Colombia
The Universidad Nacional de Colombia , also called UNAL or just UN, is a public, national, coeducational, research university, located primarily in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, Colombia...
in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, but after one year he abandoned the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. Soon after he began new studies on biology at the Universidad Javeriana
Pontifical Xavierian University
The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana is a private higher education institution founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali...
in Bogotá, which he finished. Then he spent one year in Italy at the film academy Cinecittá, where he obtained basic notions on cinema
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
.
Vallejo then returned to Colombia with the project of filmmaking. Yet after difficulties with the Colombian Government in producing and, after he produced it, in presenting his first film (it was censored), he decided to leave his country.
In Mexico he produced and distributed three films about the violence in Colombia. He also wrote an award-winning children's theater script, "El reino misterioso o Tomás y las abejas." He has been living in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
since 1971, where he not only produced his cinematographic pieces, but also the whole of his literary work. Despite time spent in other locales, mainly Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, most of his novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s take place in Colombia. Some of his themes are grammar, biology, philosophy, physics, violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, pederasty
Pederasty
Pederasty or paederasty is an intimate relationship between an adult and an adolescent boy outside his immediate family. The word pederasty derives from Greek "love of boys", a compound derived from "child, boy" and "lover".Historically, pederasty has existed as a variety of customs and...
, adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, drug
Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior...
s, death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and politics, mostly related to places such as Antioquia
Antioquia Department
Antioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
and Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
; yet his main theme is his life. His books are written in first person, in an autobiographical style.
His best-known novel, La virgen de los sicarios
Our Lady of the Assassins (novel)
Our Lady of the Assassins is a semi-autobiographical novel by the Colombian writer Fernando Vallejo about an author in his fifties who returns to his hometown of Medellín after 30 years of absence to find himself trapped in an atmosphere of violence and murder caused by drug cartel warfare...
, has been translated into English as Our Lady of the Assassins. It deals with his fictionalized return to Medellín, and his relationships with two teenagers caught in the local cycle of violence. The autobiographical/fiction La virgen de los sicarios was made into a full feature film in 2000 and released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as Our Lady of the Assassins.
In 2003, Colombian filmmaker Luis Ospina made a feature-length documentary about him: "La desazón suprema: retrato incesante de Fernando Vallejo ("The Supreme Uneasiness: Incessant Portrait of Fernando Vallejo").
In April 2007, Vallejo obtained Mexican citizenship and published a letter in which he publicly renounced his Colombian nationality. The letter presents the reasons for his decision by mentioning several incidents during his career, among them the recent reelection of President Uribe, that eventually led him to this decision.
Vallejo is openly gay and lives with his partner, scenographist David Antón.
Selected works
- "El reino misterioso o Tomás y las abejas" - [The Mysterious Kingdom, or, Thomas and the Bees] (1975). In Pilo Tamirano Luca: 2o. Concurso Nacional de Obras de Teatro. México, DF: IMSS.
- Logoi: una gramática del lenguaje literario (1983) ISBN 9681613244
- Barba Jacob, el mensajero (1984) ISBN 9687234008
- The Blue Days - Los días azules (1985) ISBN 9586142299
- The Secret Fire - El fuego secreto (1987) ISBN 9586141977
- The Roads to Rome - Los caminos a Roma (1988) ISBN 9586142612
- Years of Indulgence - Años de indulgencia (1989) ISBN 958614299X
- El mensajero (1991) ISBN 9586143252
- Among ghosts - Entre fantasmas (1993) ISBN 9586143783
- La virgen de los sicariosOur Lady of the Assassins (novel)Our Lady of the Assassins is a semi-autobiographical novel by the Colombian writer Fernando Vallejo about an author in his fifties who returns to his hometown of Medellín after 30 years of absence to find himself trapped in an atmosphere of violence and murder caused by drug cartel warfare...
- [Our Lady of the Assassins](1994) ISBN 9582401419 - Chapolas negras (1995) ISBN 9582402830
- The Darwinist Tautology - La tautología darwinista (1998)
- The Precipice - El desbarrancadero (2001) ISBN 9588061628
- Rambla Paralela- "La rambla paralela" (2002) ISBN 842044457X
- My Brother the Mayor - Mi hermano el alcalde (2003) ISBN 8420400971
- Brief Handbook of Impostorology in Physics- "Manualito de imposturología física" (2005)
- The Whore of Babylon- "La puta de Babilonia" (2007) ISBN 9703703267
He received the Rómulo Gallegos Prize
Rómulo Gallegos Prize
The Rómulo Gallegos International Novel Prize was created on 6 August 1964 by a presidential decree enacted by Venezuelan President Raúl Leoni, in honor of the Venezuelan politician and President Rómulo Gallegos, the author of Doña Bárbara....
in 2003, one of the most prestigious prizes for Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
in the Spanish language for El desbarrancadero and, protesting the political climate in Venezuela, donated the cash from the award to Caracas's dogs.
Acceptance speech at the Romulo Gallegos prize, in Spanish:
http://www.analitica.com/bitblio/fernando_vallejo/discurso_romulo_gallegos.asp
Interviews
"La sinceridad puede ser demoledora" Ciberletras, 13. Lehman University. http://www.lehman.edu/ciberletras/v13/villenagarrido.htmTwo hours of a very open interview in Spanish, on Caracol Radio,
10/27/2006