SXSW Doc ‘Take No Prisoner’ Follows America’s Top Hostage Negotiator in Battle to Free L.A. Public Defender From Venezuelan Prison

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In “Take No Prisoners,” filmmakers Adam Ciralsky and Subrata De were granted exceptional behind-the-scenes privileges to follow the efforts of ex-top U.S. hostage negotiator Roger Carstens, as he tirelessly works towards securing the release of L.A. public defender Eyvin Hernandez from a Venezuelan jail.

The documentary’s initial scene might be confused for a Jason Bourne movie. On an airfield in Miami, Nicolás Maduro’s nephews, who are convicted drug traffickers, were boarded onto a U.S. government aircraft as part of a prisoner exchange involving seven Americans: Matthew Heath, Osman Khan, and the so-called Citgo Five. Ciralsky was the only journalist or filmmaker present on the tarmac at Joint Base San Antonio when these recently freed hostages arrived.

However, Ciralsky and De chose not to concentrate “Take No Prisoners” on the 2022 recovery that resembled the largest since American hostages were freed from Iran in 1981. Instead, they trailed Carstens as he endeavored to rescue Hernandez, a Los Angeles County public defender, who had traveled to Colombia for vacation in 2022. Along with a friend, Hernandez aimed to address a passport matter at the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Unfortunately, they were seized by Venezuelan forces and imprisoned in a high-security facility for alleged crimes involving “association” and “conspiracy.”

Ciralsky mentions that while there was enough gold in narrating the events preceding the Miami release of the seven Americans, as filmmakers, Subrata and he believed that documenting Eyvin’s rescue journey could create a captivating real-life documentary. However, they were unaware of how challenging it would be, how much time it would require, or what the cost would be.

In the year 2022, Ciralsky was granted exceptional permission by the Biden administration to join the hostage negotiation proceedings involving Carstens. Notably, both the White House and the Venezuelan government permitted Ciralsky to witness, and even record, negotiations that spanned from the small island of Canouan in the Grenadines to the heart of Caracas within the Venezuelan regime’s stronghold. In the end, Ciralsky utilized his time with Carstens to create a documentary and a 2024 article for Vanity Fair titled “Take No Prisoners.” Lionsgate Television has optioned this piece, and Hulu is currently developing it into a scripted series called “The Envoy,” with Alexi Hawley serving as the showrunner.

EbMaster had a discussion with Ciralsky and De concerning the movie “Take No Prisoners” before its global debut at SXSW on March 8th.

What drew you to tell the story of Eyvin Hernandez’s family’s fight to get him back home?

Despite the extensive media focus on Brittney Griner and Evan Gershkovich, it’s hard to believe that a public defender in L.A. County was languishing in a Venezuelan prison without much attention. While we can’t claim advocacy, we were the only ones consistently tracking Eyvin’s story. There were occasional news reports in Los Angeles, but there was no one chronicling the ordeal of this family who didn’t have any senators as friends nor connections with their congressmen.

De: It’s worth mentioning that Roger gave equal importance to everyone he interacted with. This aspect was crucial to highlight. In fact, Roger considered every American and their families as equally important. Therefore, having the opportunity to observe him up close, something not many people experience, held significant value for us.

You found the level of access granted by the Biden administration to be astonishing. What makes you believe they extended such access to you?

Ciralsky suggests that these individuals believed this action to be a significant victory in their foreign policy – the liberation of American citizens from China, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Notably, there wasn’t any opposition or voice advocating for the continued imprisonment of Americans abroad. This unique situation left them wondering who might criticize their actions.

From: Furthermore, considering the documentary format allowed us to track a story’s progression over an extended period, there was less of the fast-paced chaos associated with managing breaking news stories on any given day. Consequently, their daily routines appeared more deliberate and measured.

In this movie, there are scenes that switch between high-stress political situations involving the government, and poignant, heartfelt moments with the Hernandez family. How did you manage to keep a harmonious blend of these two distinct moods?

To: Individuals caught in hostage situations, whether they’re from government or families, find themselves in a prolonged, tense emotional limbo. For the families, it’s a relentless, gut-wrenching nightmare. They are perpetually engulfed in uncertainty, constantly questioning if there is more they could be doing, wondering about their loved one’s fate, and tormented by fleeting moments of hope, only to be followed by crushing disappointments. The political and governmental drama surrounding these situations is similarly a tumultuous emotional ride for the rescue teams. They come so close to bringing someone home, as depicted in the film, but then an obstacle or unforeseen complication brings it all crashing down. This shared experience creates a common emotional terrain for both families and rescue teams.

How are you feeling about finding distribution for “Take No Prisoners” out of SXSW?

Our situation is quite peculiar, not following a regular sequence. An article leads to a series of scripted episodes, followed by a documentary production.

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2025-03-08 19:25