First Lady of the Revolution

First Lady of the Revolution is a 2016 feature-length documentary film about former first lady of Costa Rica Henrietta Boggs. The documentary is a Spark Media film and was directed and produced by Andrea Kalin.

While visiting an aunt and uncle in the exotic countryside of Costa Rica, a young southern belle from Alabama accepted a ride on the back of a motorcycle belonging to a local charismatic farmer — a ride that would propel her down narrow mountain roads and into history. First Lady of the Revolution is the story of Henrietta Boggs, who fell in love with a foreign land and the man destined to transform its identity. Her marriage to José Figueres Ferrer in 1941 led to a decade-long journey through activism, exile and political upheaval and, ultimately, lasting progressive reforms. First Lady of the Revolution is not only a depiction of the momentous struggle to shape Costa Rica’s democratic identity; it’s also a portrayal of how a courageous woman escaped the confines of a traditional, sheltered existence to expand her horizons into a new world, and live a life she never imagined.

First Lady of the Revolution debuted in Birmingham, Alabama at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival on August 27, 2016, where it won the Audience Award for Best Alabama Film and a Jury Award Honorable Mention. Henrietta Boggs also received the inaugural Spirit of Sidewalk Award. The film had its Costa Rican premiere on September 13, 2016 in San José at the Cine Magaly followed by a limited theatrical run in Costa Rica and New York City.

Following its premiere at Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in 2016, Rick Harmon of Montgomery Advertiser wrote "It's a fascinating documentary...it leaves viewers hungering for more..." According to Eric Ginsburg of Triad City Beat First Lady of the Revolution "offers a unique perspective on a conflict that’s often overlooked."First Lady of the Revolution was the winner of the Audience Choice Award at Fairhope Film Festival and the Hoka Award for Best Documentary Feature at Oxford Film Fest. The film also won three TIVA-DC awards, an IndieFEST Award of Excellence and a Spotlight Award.