Because I've been really busy attending the fest and also celebrating the Easter holiday with family, I hadn't really taken the time to cover the films I've watched so far. Here is a day-to-day breakdown of what I've seen.
Thursday Night April 21
Opening night, the first film I attended was a funny and eccentric narrative feature from Guatemala titled MARIMBAS DEL INFIERNO (MARIMBAS FROM HELL). Writer/Director Julio Hernandez Cordon tells the story of Don Alfonso (Alfonso Tunche), a sad and struggling Marimba musician whose only passion is to keep playing this traditional instrument. Because of the harassment of gangs extorting him and threatening violence, he separates himself from his family and struggles on his own. When he is fired from his regular gig, Alfonso seeks help from his godson Chiquilin (Victor Hugo Monterroso), who has street connections, but otherwise is of little help as he has a glue-sniffing problem. He introduces Alfonso to Blacko, a medical doctor whose real passion is heavy metal music. The two decide to fuse traditional marimba music and metal.
Overall, I enjoyed the film which oddly mixes the sad harsh realities of poverty and drug abuse in Guatemala along with well written and performed humor. Not all of the humor works in the film and does feel a bit awkward at times. Nevertheless, Cordon creates a piece fascinating and entertaining for it eccentricities alone.
3 (Out of 4 stars)
I immediately followed MARIMBAS with a Colombian film called RETRATOS EN UN MAR DE MENTIRAS (PORTRAITS IN A SEA OF LIES). Writer/director Carlos Gaviria takes audiences into the harsh poverty of Colombia. Two cousins Jairo (Julian Roman), an amateur photographer, and Marina (Paola Baldion), a mute and psychologically troubled young lady travel to their home following the death of their grandfather. They attempt to reclaim the land from which Marina was displaced many years prior. During the road trip, Marina's traumatic memories from her past surface and she must cope with these experiences along with other threats that the two face upon their arrival.
I must say that I found this dramatic film very compelling and sad as I'm sure that it was inspired by real stories of real people. Gaviria, a native of Colombia does an excellent job presenting this story of tragedy and loss. The two leads Roman and Baldion perform admirably and credibly portray their characters. I would love to see this film succeed as an art house favorite.
3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
Friday April 22
HABANA EVA
So far this has been my favorite film of the festival. Director Fina Torres, who co-wrote this film with writers Jorge Camacho and Julio Carrillo does a fine job with this comedy/romantic tale of Eva (Prakriti Maduro), a headstrong seamstress working in a sweatshop dress factory in Cuba who would rather design her own dresses than manufacture ugly cookie cutter dresses. Unhappy living at home with her parents and her lazy boyfriend Angel (Carlos Enrique Almirante), things begin to look up when she meets Jorge (Juan Carlos Garcia), a worldly, aspiring photographer whom she falls for. Eva reaches a turning point in her life where she must decide whether or not to pursue her dreams or settle for her currently sad mundane existence.
I absolutely love this film. Fina Torres and her co-writers create a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining film with wonderful characters. I particularly enjoyed the character Teresa (Yuliet Cruz), Eva's wild and crazy best friend. Cruz has tremendous talent and uses it well to deliver many laughs. Maduro who portrays Eva is a lovely talent who should not be ignored.
3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
TE CREIAS LA MAS LINDA....(PERO ERIS LA MAS PUTA)/YOU THINK YOU ARE THE PRETTIEST...(BUT YOU ARE THE SLUTTIEST)
As I read throught the film schedule, this film title definitely caught my eye. Based on the title alone, I had to see this movie. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this tedious and over-lengthy movie, which does manage to deliver some laughs, but becomes annoyingly redundant after a while. Javier (Martin Castillo), a highly insecure unlucky in love young man, decides to wander the streets in search of romantic conquest after a poor performance with his love interest Valentina. Having no game whatsoever, Javier strikes out left and right all the time imagining that his artist "friend" (Francisco Braithwaite) has once again seduced and stolen one of his ladies.
The insecurities and imagination of the Javier character along with his failing attempts at scoring becomes fodder for laughs, but this gag runs thin and becomes old after awhile. Perhaps Chilean writer/director Che Sandoval could have cut this idea down and made a much more solid short film from this material rather than an 84 minute feature which feels much longer than it actually is.
2.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
Saturday April 23
GO FOR IT!
This was the first English language Hispanic/Latino themed motion picture that I watched at the fest. Written and directed by first time filmmaker Carmen Marron, GO FOR IT! tells the story of Carmen Salgado (Aimee Garcia), a Chicago high school girl who spends her nights competing in street dance offs with her friends. Her teacher Frank Martin (Al Bandiero) sees her potential for an education and career and encourages her to pursue a college education at a school with a great dance program. Unfortunately, Carmen faces other drama, both at home with her family and with her best friend Gina (Gina Rodriguez) who's in an abusive relationship with her thug boyfriend.
I have never been a big fan of the urban dance STEP UP films. While they have great dance choreography, these films definitely lack when it comes to story and characters, and usually have plots as transparent as a freshly cleaned window. Marron puts a heartfelt and fresh spin on this type of movie giving it a genuine story with great characters. For a first time filmmaker, she skillfully mixes comedy and drama, and should have audiences cheering when this film is released in theaters next month.
3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
ON THE ICE
I followed up the fist pumping, feel good GO FOR IT! with a very dark and grim motion picture from writer/director Andrew Okpeaha MacLean. ON THE ICE takes audiences into the lives of Iniupiaq people (an Eskimo culture) living in nearly constant daylight in Alaska. Two teenage boys played by Josiah Patkotak and Frank Qutuq Irelan have to literally and figuratively cover their tracks when a hunting trip fueled by alcohol and drugs ends in a tragic death. The two boys go through an emotional journey as they must come to grips with what they have done and the lies they tell to cover up this huge mistake.
MacLean does a tremendous job as writer and director of this intensely dark and tragic tale and his leads, Patkotak and Irelan, offer solid performances in a great film which had me wincing on the edge of my seat throughout its run.
3.5 (Out of 4 Stars)
No comments:
Post a Comment