Sins of My Father

Sins of My Father. Pablo Escobar told by his son

Directed by Nicolás Entel, Sins of My Father offers an unprecedented and deeply human perspective on the life and legacy of Pablo Escobar. Told through the voice of his only son Sebastián Marroquín, born Juan Pablo Escobar, the film transforms the familiar tale of the infamous Colombian drug lord into a personal and emotional journey of guilt, forgiveness and redemption.

The documentary explores the unique burden of being the son of a man who defined an era of violence and power. Marroquín, having changed his identity to escape his father’s shadow, revisits the past with an honesty that transcends any sensationalism. His narration is accompanied by rare archival footage, including intimate home videos from Escobar’s “Finca Nápoles”, revealing both the warmth of a family life and the surreal world surrounding one of history’s most feared men.

Premiered at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival, Sins of My Father distinguishes itself from conventional portrayals of narco culture. Instead of glorifying crime, it focuses on the generational consequences of violence. The emotional climax arrives when Marroquín meets the sons of two politicians his father had murdered, Rodrigo Lara Bonilla and Luis Carlos Galán, transforming inherited hatred into a moving act of reconciliation.

With its restraint and intelligence, Entel’s film stands apart from typical gangster narratives, offering a rare and dignified reflection on family, identity and the price of redemption.