As in years past, this year's Latin American Film Festival offers you a taste of something different.
Viva México! Viva Ecuador! Viva Venezuela! Viva Chile! Viva the other six countries that are contributing to this year's Latin American Film Festival at three GSC cinemas in the Klang Valley! Viva, you may have guessed, is how we say our celebratory "Long live!" in Spanish. And the correct response is to echo Viva! in response.
See, now you know something awesome about Latin American culture. Come to the Latin American Film Festival (LAFF) for more.
Film festivals are a glorious yearly event and here is one that has been around for a while. It also stands apart for two reasons. One is personal – this reviewer deeply loves Latin America, its countries, its peoples and its cultures. The second is in the choice of films.
While the trend with some festivals has been to show more modern and crowd-pleasing selections, this festival will be a delight to traditionalists. Instead of trying to accommodate the viewers' tastes, these films invite you to sample new flavours.
It's the difference between a few days in a five-star hotel and a couple weeks in a homestay. Perhaps not for everyone, but very special to those who give it a go.
Unfortunately there is a limited time to sample this bufetdelicioso – only four days in which to watch 12 films from 10 countries, but do try to get at least one bite. And for aficionados, the challenge is great but, say it with me: SÃpodemos! (Yes, we can!)
Some select films to get you in the groove:
A Paper Tiger (Colombia)
Winner of the Colombian National Award for Documentary, Luis Ospina investigates the life and work of legendary Colombian collage artist Pedro Manrique Figuerora from 1934 to his mysterious disappearance in 1981. The artist's elusive and contradictory story serves as a pretext for a documentary about the 1960s and 70s, a period so often idealised and mystified, which examines the relationship between art and politics, between truth and lies, and between documentary and fiction.
The Old House (Cuba)
Based on the classic Cuban play The Old House by Abelardo Estorino, it does its own asking and answering of that age-old question: Can you ever go back home again? Esteban, who left 14 years ago, returns when he learns that his father is dying and finds that little has changed. The family's joy at seeing him again cannot cover for long the bitterness and resentment over Esteban's long absence. Trapped together in the family's old house, grudges, misunderstandings and intolerance bubble to the surface.
Welcome To Your Family (Ecuador)
At the age of 14, Yandri has already spent half of her life away from her father who immigrated to Spain in hopes of finding a better future for his family. Jessica emigrates too, leaving her children to be raised by their loving grandmother. Jorge's youngest daughter was only nine months old when he emigrated, so she has no memory of him. Welcome To Your Family is a documentary that follows the lives of three families trying to reunite after hard decisions and long separation.
Open Air (Venezuela)
As the 18th century turns into the 19th, two young European naturalists, Alexandre Von Humboldt and Aime Bonpland go through the heart of the jungle in search of the mythical Casiquiare River. Full of progressive convictions, these democratic humanists face a brutal and beautiful reality. Their travels shall mark them forever and will lead them to discover death, life and eternal friendship.
This wonderful adventure movie is also a philosophical and ecological story with surrealistic touches, a beautiful story of friendship and brotherhood which transgress cultural clashes, and a spectacular historical fresco.
Dog In The Manger (Peru)
A comedy about, of all things, encroaching development. Brus is an indigenous artist who struggles to organise his community to protect their culture and ancestral land in the rainforest of Peru. To protect this land, one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, Brus joins a local NGO and finds himself in the surreal world of foreign researchers, volunteers and development experts, but ultimately discovers his own way of empowering his community.
Moon Of Avellaneda (Argentina)
Román Maldonado was born in the midst of a carnival fair held at "Luna de Avellaneda," a sports and social club, and for this he is made a member for life. The decades pass and membership dwindles from thousands to only 300 and the club is in danger of being demolished and replaced with a bingo parlour. Although Román is also undergoing marital problems, he and his friends know they must fight for Luna's survival.
> Films for the Latin American Film Festival 2011 are showing at GSC Mid Valley, GSC 1-Utama and GSC Pavillion from Oct 20 to 23. Tickets are RM5 a piece, except for the Brazilan films which are free of charge. For more information, please visit latinfilmfest.org.my or gsc.com.my.
A Brazilian bonus
BRAZIL invites Malaysian audiences to watch its two festival films for free. Honestly, I would highly recommend both even without the added incentive. The two documentaries will have you scurrying home to spend an hour or so on Google, eager to learn more about their topics. And if you have a list of Things To Do Before You Die, it will likely get just a little longer.
You can print the coupons for free passes on the LAFF pages of gsc.com.my.
The Mystery Of Samba
Samba does not come from the city or from the slums. It comes from the heart." By the time these words are spoken, you could have probably said them yourself. Documentary-maker Lula Buarque de Hollanda has taken you to Portela, a Brazilian Samba school that by the end of the film will invoke the same feeling of longing as Xanadu. Or New Orleans.
The people Buarque de Hollanda speaks to about Samba are (or should be) legends, men and women to whom song is the most natural way of expressing love, pain, loneliness, joy or even news. Such a common way of life that until recently, no one thought of writing them down or preserving them but recently the effort has been made to record and share some of these wonderful songs.
The stories are wonderful to hear. There was one man who as a child fell in love with the cavaquinho (a musical instrument that looks like a small guitar) but could not afford the instrument. What the little boy did next and how this meant that the first time he actually picked up a cavaquinho he could play like a virtuoso is unforgettable.
As is the music. Like me, three days after watching the film your heart will still be singing Portela.
Oscar Niemeyer: Life is But A Breath
If you have any interest whatsoever in architecture, you absolutely cannot miss this film. Oscar Niemeyer is man who created a whole new school of architecture. His buildings are all over the world and designs inspired or influenced by his work (not only buildings, as you will see in the film) are likely within walking distance of wherever you are right now.
I did this after watching the film, but you go ahead and Google images under his name if you need any further convincing. Then go watch and learn from the master how these strange and magnificent buildings came to be.
A self-proclaimed pessimist, Neimeyer believes that optimism ill-prepares us for reality while pessimism makes it possible to ride out any problems, even the difficulties he has faced. Now still living at the ripe old age of 103, Niemeyer dislikes right angles, straight lines and capitalism. His designs flow like the "curves of a woman." Poor people have nothing, but beautiful buildings gives them something to look at.
For a fascinating look at a fascinating man, don't miss this film.
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