Gentleman of Rio en Medio

An old Don, Don Anselmo, agrees to sell his ancestral land to American buyers. The price is settled; lawyers prepare documents. Everyone expects a simple transaction.

An old Don, Don Anselmo, agrees to sell his ancestral land to American buyers. The price is settled; lawyers prepare documents. Everyone expects a simple transaction.

Don Anselmo is courteous, proud, and poor by modern standards yet "gentlemanly" in behaviour. He treats buyers and villagers with formal dignity.

Don Anselmo is courteous, proud, and poor by modern standards yet "gentlemanly" in behaviour. He treats buyers and villagers with formal dignity.

After the sale, buyers want to clear the orchard. Don Anselmo refuses - he did not sell the trees. He had planted each tree for every child born in the village; they belong to the children, not to him to sell.

After the sale, buyers want to clear the orchard. Don Anselmo refuses - he did not sell the trees. He had planted each tree for every child born in the village; they belong to the children, not to him to sell.

The deed gives buyers legal ownership of all on the land. Don Anselmo's tradition recognises a moral claim the paper ignores. Conflict arises between written contract and spoken word.

The deed gives buyers legal ownership of all on the land. Don Anselmo's tradition recognises a moral claim the paper ignores. Conflict arises between written contract and spoken word.

The community and buyers must accept that honour and custom can bind as strongly as law. Don Anselmo's stubbornness is not greed but principle.

The community and buyers must accept that honour and custom can bind as strongly as law. Don Anselmo's stubbornness is not greed but principle.

Exam questions focus on character of Don Anselmo, clash of cultures, and title irony - he is "gentleman" by code of honour, not wealth.

Exam questions focus on character of Don Anselmo, clash of cultures, and title irony - he is "gentleman" by code of honour, not wealth.