The Violin
by Francisco Vargas
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DVD details
Actor: Angel Tavira Maldonado, Dagoberto Gama, Don Angel Tavira, Fermin Martinez, Gerardo TaracenaDirector: Francisco Vargas
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-05-27
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Film Movement
DVD Reviews of The Violin
DVD Review: Moving...
Summary: 5 Stars
This spanish language movie is set in the mountains in the state of Guerrero, Mexico during a revolutionary period where the peasants are attempting to overthrow the army rule and control over the farmlands. Central to the plot are three generations of men - Don Plutarco, the one-hand violin playing grandfather - his son Genaro (plays guitar and a key member of revolution) and the grandson Lucio. The three of them travel from town to town playing music for pennies while the story begins to unfold. While Genaro is active in participating in revolutionary activities, it's Plutarco's music and craftiness which engage a Senior army officer for the benefit of the revolution. The story opens with some brutally violent scenes which immediately take you into its grips - and then gently rocks you back and forth between calm and reflection and tension. The movie is filmed in stunning black and white vistas. The individual characters and hardships are etched in the faces and bodies. This is a slow moving but captivating film - which moves from brutality to poverty and tenderness and back again. Like many great performances, few words are spoken in this film but much is understood. If you liked Grapes of Wrath, you'll likely enjoy this movie which has similar themes of poverty, endurance, struggle. Loved it...
DVD Review: Unforgettable images, a great film
Summary: 5 Stars
This film stays with me and the image of the old man finally understanding the fate of his son and family is almost more than the heart can bear. I recommend this film to anyone who has a sense of injustice, inhumanity of man, and the hideous consequences of the power of fascist regimes. A measure of hope is renewed by the scene of grandson and girl traveling down the road looking to the future, with arms.DVD Review: Excited to finally be able to purchase this film
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. Fabulous. Stunning black and white cinematography. Slow, but a sadly accurate story capturing the way of life of the struggle.DVD Review: Narratively Clich?d, but Visually Stunning.
Summary: 4 Stars
Writer/director Francisco Vargas doesn't cover any new territory in "The Violin", but he brings familiar themes to the screen in a particularly beautiful style. In an unnamed Latin American nation, three generations of the Hidalgo family travel the countryside as itinerant musicians. Don Plutarco (Angel Tavira) is a violinist missing a hand. His son Genaro (Gerardo Taracena) plays guitar, while grandson Lucio (Dagoberto Gama) collects the money. But Genaro has other reasons for leaving his village to vagabond: He buys arms for rebel guerilla forces. Upon returning to their village, the men find the population displaced and government solders terrorizing their comrades. But a stash of ammunition is still on the Hidalgo farm, undiscovered. Plutarco uses his violin in a ploy to recover it.
"The Violin" is black-and-white, reminiscent of Italian neo-realism in its style and its politics. It proceeds at a measured pace, lingering on sights, sounds, and faces, with spare dialogue. Although it reminded me of Italian neo-realism, "The Violin" has its own distinct earthiness, not exactly like anything I've seen before, and it's quite beautiful. The action seems to take place in Mexico, but the time and place are never specified, presumably because the battle between government and rebel forces is intended to be generic. The characters are populist cliches: An honest, uncomplicated old man, noble peasants, heroic revolutionaries, and sadistic soldiers. Predictably, Plutarco speaks of the native, pagan religion, not Catholicism. Though I found the story tired, "The Violin" is one of the most visually arresting films I've seen in recent years and well worth seeing to immerse yourself in the style. In Spanish with optional English subtitles.
The DVD (Film Movement 2008): This disc is from the Film Movement DVD-of-the-Month Club. In addition to the feature, there is a short film called "Un Bisou Pour le Monde" (A Kiss for the World) (7 min) by director Cyril Paris. It's about an insolent elementary school student who tears and then tapes a newspaper back together so as to change the headlines. In French with English subtitles. There are also text bios of 3 actors and director Francisco Vargas, a theatrical trailer (2 min), and trailers for some of Film Movement's other releases.
DVD Review: Not a movie but a true film.
Summary: 5 Stars
[Originally a comment to a previous review.]
What this film portrays is the ruthlessness of profit-driven policy, and the struggle to maintain some semblance of dignity and cultural history. This is well summarized by the tale about Gods of creation, told by the grandfather to his inquisitive grandchild. Done in black and white, relatively little dialogue and masterful cinematography, the film provides a painting of the human will to survive, and the humanity that can sometimes be found in the most unlikely of places. There are not enough such films - historic depictions that double as artistic masterpieces. After watching this film, it may be worthwhile to look at the history involved, and to trace America's involvement in the issues. Perhaps this will lead to a broader understanding of indigenous issues related to Latin America, and the School of the Americas as well. True art transcends entertainment and this, for "us," can sometimes be challenging.
Peace,
E.S.M.
Description of The Violin
Don Plutarco, his son Genaro and his grandson Lucio live a double life: on one hand they are musicians and humble farmers, on the other they support the campesina peasant guerilla movement's armed efforts against the oppressive government. When the military seizes the village, the rebels flee to the sierra hills, forced to leave behind their stock of ammunition. While the guerillas organize a counter-attack, old Plutarco executes his own plan. He plays up his appearance as a harmless violin player, in order to get into the village and recover the ammunition hidden his corn field. His violin playing charms the army captain, who orders Plutarco to come back daily. Arms and music play a tenuous game of cat-and-mouse which ultimately results in painful betrayal.General DVDs
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