Dona Barbara is a 1943 Mexican film directed by Fernando de Funters, the film is based on the 1920 novel of the same name by Romulo Gallego. Although the film was produced in Mexico, the story takes place in Los Llanos de Aruca Vally Venezuela (Aruca Vally plain). Important natural resource themes applied in this film are the use of the Orinoco River as a means of transportation and communication and the use of agricultural activities as a way to make a profit. Doña Barbara, a female caudillo, is the owner and ruler of El Miedo, a hacienda in the Aruca Valley of Venezuela and the lowlands surrounding the Orinoco River. Barbara is known as the devourer of men because she uses men to get rich and then disposes of them, this is the case of Lorenzo Barquero, a real owner who she married to take possession of his lands; and then let him become an alcoholic. Doña Barbara is known and respected in the country, she is said to be as fierce and strong as any man; together with his relatives and corrupt authorities he stole livestock and land from Altamira, a hacienda in the neighborhood. The climax of the story is reached when Santos Luzardo; a well-mannered lawyer and rightful owner of Alatamira arrives in Aruca Vally to address Altamira's mismanagement and ongoing financial problems. The peones (workers) of Altamira do not believe that Santos will live up to Dona Barbara's corrupt actions, however, as true llaneros they swear allegiance to their patron (boss). Barbara and Lorenzo had a daughter Marizela, who reminds Barbara of herself before she was raped. This is why she left the penniless girl to live in a cabin with her alcoholic father as punishment for not being as strong as her. Upon his arrival Santos brings Lorenzo and his daughter to......center of the paper......the role of women but also to keep alive the struggle between civilization and barbarism during the begging of the oil era and of political criticism of the regime of Venezuelan president Juan Vicente Gomes (1857 – 1935). Romulo and De Fuentes used themes such as Mr. Danger, Coronel Pernalete and Doña Barbara to describe his presidency. Coronel Pernalete, and specifically the scene where the H's are dotted to make them sound, refers to Gomez's illiteracy; a man who rose to power thanks to his extensive knowledge of military strategies. Doña Barbara and Mr. Danger represent Gome's mismanagement of the country; on the one hand, Mr. Danger serves as an example of US dominance in Latin America, while Dona Barbara on the other refers to his violent way of governing and the fact that, during his presidency, a significant percentage of Venezuela's wealth ended up in his hand and Wall Street.