A 1916 Puerto Rican film once thought lost to history, "Por la hembra y por el gallo," one of the earliest movies made on the island, is set to be recreated through a research, preservation, and film production project led by the organization Cine Nuestro in collaboration with Murphys Studios. The initiative follows a historical investigation that recovered the film's original screenplay, a documentary piece that had been missing for decades, making it possible to reconstruct what is considered a foundational work in early Puerto Rican cinema.
Gabriel Berdecía, spokesperson for Cine Nuestro, said the project aims to rescue an incomplete chapter of Puerto Rican history spanning over 100 years and "return it to the people of Puerto Rico." Rather than a modern remake, the project seeks to recreate the early 20th-century cinematic experience through rigorous historical research and audiovisual production. After its 1916 release, the film disappeared over time, leaving only references in historical publications and period documents.
The recovery of its original plot allowed Cine Nuestro to assemble a multidisciplinary team of historians, researchers, filmmakers, producers, designers, technicians, and artists, with historical authenticity as one of the project's defining commitments.