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Reviews
La teta asustada (2009)
Harsh, Confusing, but Ultimately Necessary
La teta asustada is a film which, even weeks after seeing it, for which I still find it hard to fully process and analyse. Overall it was an incredibly compelling and rich film, though I felt at times it lost its way. Perhaps that was the point.
The film begins abruptly with a story of sexual violence and atrocious violations of a woman's rights. This would be jarring enough on its own, but the movie presents the story through the song of an aging, dying woman, who lies in her death bed. This opening sets up the rest of the movie, a trance-like journey through the hate-filled, violence-filled, discrimination-filled life of Fausta, a poor indigenous woman of Perú, who's soul has been crushed by the boot of an oppressive past. From one scene to the next the viewer slowly comes to know Fausta, piece by piece. However, like the pearl necklace that Fausta tries to earn with her voice, the picture is never truly completed.
I can't say that I liked or enjoyed this movie. I really didn't. It was incredibly painful to sit through, and I found myself disgusted and angry at everyone in it. But that is the point. The film is meant to paint a picture of the harsh reality of a society who for centuries upon centuries has been ruled by violence. Everyone in Fausta's life seems to take advantage of her. From her uncle to her employer, to the doctor supposedly sworn to heal, Fausta is abused, used, and forgotten. The film is a harsh, but accurate depiction of the worst side of humanity, and while it's hard to look at, it is necessary. Watching the film should remind the viewer that we as a species have a great potential for harm, and that this potential is so easily realised. The movie shows us that doing evil is easy. It's the easiest thing in the world. The hard thing is being good. And most of the time, we fail at it. Most of the time, evil is where we end up.
Que Horas Ela Volta? (2015)
Truly an amazing film
Que horas ela volta? makes my list of the top five films I've seen in 2017. It is a wonderfully crafted film which explores the intricacies of classism and sexism through the lens of a very likable and extremely caring protagonist. Val, a live-in maid nanny for a very rich family of three in São Paulo, leads a very routine life, cleaning, cooking and caring for her employer's son. Unfortunately, in order to do this and make a living she had to leave her daughter in the care of her friends and relatives back home in the North. Years go by without seeing Jéssica, and eventually a falling out occurs—even communication via telephone has ceased. Then, out of the blue, Val receives a call from Jéssica; she's coming to São Paulo in order to take placement exams to enter into one of the most elite universities in the country. Val is excited and prepares her a space in her room, with a new mattress bought by Dona Barbara, the mistress of the home. Unfortunately, everything doesn't go as Val plans. Chaos rules the day as the independent Jéssica clashes with social norms and the inherent inequality of her mother's position in the world.
The story-line of this film was not the only aspect of it which I enjoyed. Overall the acting, the political commentary, the cinematography and the emotional clarity of the movie drew me in. As a person from a place with very strict class distinctions and social rules to regulate interactions between classes, I found both Val's worries and Jéssica's hatred of the inequality she saw to be believable and relatable. If I were to pick any movie to show someone to introduce them to Latin American cinema, I would use this movie. It is a testament to the cinematographic abilities of Brazil and of its director Anna Muylaert.
Yo, la peor de todas (1990)
Feminist Film, Poetry on the Silver Screen
Overall I was pleased with the film Yo, la peor de todas for its in depth and thought provoking exploration of the person and legend of Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz. From her lesbian desires, to her monumental intellect, to her tussles with Church authorities regarding matters of faith, theology, and feminism, the film entertains and enlightens the viewer. Unfortunately, this wonderful set up is slightly marred by the acting of certain cast members within the movie. While normally such a detail would not bother me, in this particular movie with both its important themes and its depiction of one of the most influential poets and feminists in history, I found myself disappointed at the fact the Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz was not receiving the complete focus and fleshing-out that such an influential and important person deserves.
One scene in particular which made me realise the genius of this movie came late in the film when Sor Juana is visiting her sick, dying mother. Sor Juana sits on the edge of her mother's death bed, cooling her off with a wet rag, wiping the sweat from her brow. While I can't remember the exact words exchanged between the two, the conversation is a discussion of the events that lead Sor Juana to living in a convent, locked away from the intellectual world of which she so desperately wished to be a part. Her mother tries and tries to understand her daughter's strange obsession with knowledge, but can't seem to comprehend. However, rather than rebuke her child or berate her, she accepts Sor Juana for the woman she is. For me this was a powerful expression of one of the basic ideas underlying feminist philosophy. People and therefore women vary in their ideas, orientations, philosophies, etc.; however, these differences should not stop women from coming together and fighting for the overall goal of feminism, bettering the world-wide female experience.
Danzón (1991)
Wonderful movie, full of deep discussions of gender and sexuality.
Danzón is a fantastic movie which through its exploration of love, lust, and the female experience brings the viewer to laugh and cry and think deeply about the realities of everyday life.
I absolutely adored this movie. I am not usually one for romantic movies. I often find them to be too similar plot-wise to hold my interest for very long, and as a gay man I really do get tired of the lack of representation in movies, or even worse, representation that only furthers homonegative stereotypes. Danzón, however was original in its plot and explored themes of gender and sexuality which are often ignored or barely touched upon in movies. I think the most enjoyable part of the film for me was the degree to which I was able to immerse myself in Julia's experience. From her uncomfortable impromptu "date" in the restaurant, to her fling with a man she didn't really feel much for, to her touching reunion with her dancing partner, I found myself cheering Julia on, hoping she succeeded and lived a happy life. The part of the film I most appreciated, however, was the character Susy. While this depiction of a gay drag queen was not the most perfect thing I've ever seen, it was still fantastically done. Rather than feeling like a comic relief and an accessory to Julia, Susy struck me as a three-dimensional person, full of life and complex emotion. One of the important themes which I found fascinating was the exploration of life as a woman. Oftentimes in this still mostly male-centric world movies focus on male experience and the only aspects of female experience are those which benefit and highlight male experience. In Danzón I felt like I was actually getting a glimpse into what it's like to be a woman. I saw the sexual harassment, the disregard for female feelings and experiences, the use of women for male sexual pleasure. However, none of it felt like it was a plot device meant to further Julia's quest for her love. It felt like the director and writer were actually trying to make the viewer understand intimately the female experience. Overall I give this movie ten stars. I found it just absolutely wonderful, and deserving of the highest praise I can award.
Pelo malo (2013)
A movie with potential, that in the end confuses and disappoints
Pelo malo focuses on a young boy, known only to the viewer as "Junior", and his impoverished and jobless mother, Marta. Junior's main goal in life is to straighten his hair for a class photo, while his mother's is to get a job and stay alive, a difficult goal in the slums of Caracas. The movie moves between different social commentaries, mostly focusing on sexuality in an impoverished Latin American context. While not all the acting was prime, I will say that I found myself fairly immersed in the plot of the film. From praying to what gods may be that Marta find work, to fearing for the harm that might befall Junior if he were gay, to crying at the hard (and sometimes unethical) decision Marta had to make, to sympathising with the grandmother dealing with the loss of her son in the only way she could, I found that I nearly lost myself in the story. Unfortunately, I felt that the movie essentially ignored the fascinating topic it's title and conclusion implied, that of race relations in Venezuela. Most of the run time was consumed by an odd exploration of Junior's suspected homosexuality, which in the end left the viewer both frustrated and confused. Was Junior gay? Was his mother worried about the possible harm that homosexuality could imply for Junior, or was she just disgusted by this orientation? Honestly, the movie makes it seem like either could be true depending upon the scene. In the end, I found that the movie seemed confused as to its own goals.
Pelo malo is an interesting film. Overall I would rank it very mediocre, and not the gem that reviews online led me to believe it would be. It attempts to explore complex issues of race, sexuality, and classism, all within the context of the turmoil of modern Venezuela; however, in the end the dominant theme is sexuality and the abusive nature of many adults.