Review of "A Bay Fortified"

Last night, the foundation "At the Foot of the Wall" sponsored a viewing of "A Bay Fortified" which shows the ancient strategic point of Isla Gorriti in its present-day state. The filmographer Alejandro Ferrari spent two months filming in the state of Maldonado. During the time of colonization, this island was the gateway to the Rio de la Plata, and thus, the entire Southern cone region.
The fort was built by Guarani Indians who were captured and sent to work on the fort. The Spanish military personnel were exceptional builders, or at least good project managers, as fort-building was one of their most important duties. They armed Isla Gorriti to the teeth. Since the island sits in front of the first natural port to be found south of Florianopolis (Brazil), defense structures were set up to block entrance from either side of the bay. But the biggest ruins are found on the open-ocean side where the cannons with 24-kilo shot could reach the furthest, threatening anything within 2 kilometers away.
The was a nautical gem because of its freshwater resources. Ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean were aware of a "secret" spot where they could fill casks with freshwater while barely getting off the ship. Strategically, the island sits in front of valuable land holdings. Spain stood to incorporate Rio Grande (today, Brazil) into its colonial possessions.
Most people who go to Punta del Este don't realize that the area was secured thanks to a formidable military structure that today is in ruins. They also don't realize that the first whaling company in South America was founded here because no signs, much less a museum, exist. Thanks to Mr. Ferrari, we all know a little bit more.