Tag Archives: movie review

Movie Review – Santo Domingo Blues

Posted by on September 7, 2007 2 comments

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I saw the movie Santo Domingo Blues recently. I really enjoyed it. Being away from Dominican Republic when watching it made the movie so much better. It made me long to return home to the island (but then everything makes me want to return to DR).
My favorite parts of the entire movie were the scenes that showed the campo. The real people of the country living their everyday lives. Reality of life away from the cities.

There are many different well known Dominican performers from the past and present represented in this film. The one I most enjoyed was Aridia Ventura. She is known as “The Executioner” because of the way she puts down men in her songs. All we women can appreciate her bitter and true words about the opposite sex. She doesn’t preform any longer since she lost her eye sight. This rare performance is very special and informal.

The old timers include Eladio Romero Santos(he has past on but his music is forever with us),Ramón Cordero known as “The Sparrow”,and José Manuel Calderón. I loved watching these performers in their element. Sitting in the yard with a little ron or a bien fria (rum or a cold beer) and playing and singing from the soul.

This movie was about Luis Vargas, of course. He was one of the first bachata singers I ever heard. I went to Dominican Republic on a vacation and heard this music. I was not sure if I liked it with the twangy guitar and the strange old sounding voices. So when I returned to USA I ordered the Putumayo Presents: Republica Dominicana CD. This disc had some great songs along with their lyrics and the translations. After listening to it a few times I was hooked. So I searched for this new (new to me) music, even if I didn’t understand the lyrics.

Later, after I started understanding more of the language, I realized that Luis Vargas was a bit of a pervert. I liked his form of irreverence, even though his Machismo attitude does irritate me a bit (you must remember I am a woman). He sings songs with double meanings (which is elaborated on in the movie Santo Domingo Blues). He was even banned on the radio for a time. But I enjoy irreverence with style, and I do have to admit Luis Vargas has this attribute. I have seen him in concert and it is a really good time. The enthusiasm he brings to the audience it contagious.

If you would like to learn about Bachata music known as Música de Amargue(music of bitterness) this movie is great. If you want to see some of the real life in Dominican Republic this movie will show this also. For a documentary I thought this movie presented the information in a really entertaining way, not just a bunch of people talking. Another big plus was the narrator, one of my favorites, Luis Dias (read more about Luis Dias and hear a song of his).

For more information on Bachata music

You can rent this movie from Net Flix Netflix, Inc.

To buy the DVD from Amazon…Santo Domingo Blues (2007)

to get the Putumayo Presents: Republica Dominicana CD from Amazon

The official Santo Domingo Blues web site

Movie Review – Intimate Stories / Historias Minimas

Posted by on June 29, 2007 No comments

>Intimate Stories (2002)originally named Historias Minimas / Minimal Stories (Spanish with English subtitles)
This movie is very uneventful but I considerer it to be one of the better movies I have seen. It brings 3 people (and a baby) together who have nothing in common other than they are traveling to the same area, San Julián in the deserted and desolate southern Argentinean region of Patagonia. Each traveling on their own, their paths cross, as do their stories and dreams, throughout their separate journeys along these lonely roads.

The 80 year old man was tired of his life running a grocery store. He snuck away to search for his dog that ran away, he thinks because of something he did. Someone told him they saw the dog so off he goes hitchhiking, he can’t drive because he is almost blind, his way into the lives of the other travelers.

The traveling salesman who seems to have a crush on a widow lady overheard it was her child’s birthday so he goes out of his way to get a cake. He wants to impress her with this cake and tell her of his love for her. Not knowing if the child is a boy or girl, the cake is changed a few times throughout the movie from a boys cake to one a bit more generic.

Then there is the single mother and her baby. She won a ticket to participate in a game show and could win a food processor. She was so obsessed with the TV and the chance of winning something, even though she has no money, she took off to seek her fortune and her dream.

The director, Carlos Sorin, used mostly non-professional actors in this wonderful film. The peoples lives blend so perfectly with the scenery in this movie. It is filmed on many lonely, desolate roads in the Patagonia region. I was mezmorized by the beauty of the area and the colors of the sky were enthralling.

This road movie shows the spirit of people trying to make a dream, no matter how small, come true. Through humor, generosity, determination and a good spirit these people are very likable and honest. This movie is simple and enchanting with no special effects or action scenes. Watching it made me smile and feel good remembering it does not take that much to be truly happy.

The film won the Special Prize of the Jury in the 2002 San Sebastián Film Festival.
The winner of the 2003 Los Angeles Latino Film Festival.

Buy Intimate Stories from Amazon.com

Also available for rent from:
Netflix, Inc.

Movie Review – The Secret of Roan Inish

Posted by on June 25, 2007 No comments

>”The Secret of Roan Inish”
This movie is one of my all time favorites. After I discovered it I bought it. When I moved to Dominican Republic out of all my movies I had collected (about 300 or so) I only took about 15 of my favorites with me (sold the rest) and this movie was one I saved.
It was made in1993 but it is a timeless movie. It is a fairy tale of sorts. About this young girl Fiona, who had to leave the city after the death of her mother and go live with her grandparents. They lived within view of their ancestral island called Roan Inish. It is called the island of the seals.
Fiona learns about the families history and why they left the desolate island. She learned about the old stories of the selkies and how they effected her family.
Since it is an Irish tale the music is wonderful. Celtic, happy music. I love the entire sound of this movie. The crispness of it. Like the time when Fiona was helping her grandfather stirring the tar pot for mending the boats to the sound of the water lapping against a little row boat when a seal was taking Fiona to the island of Roan Inish.
I give this movie 5 stars all around. From the soundtrack to the tale itself. It makes one fell happy and stirs the imagination. Netflix, Inc.