This year’s LAFF features 16 films from 16 countries to
celebrate the diversity of Latin American culture. This wide-ranging programme should
bring Ottawa filmgoers out of hibernation, especially given the Senators’
recent losing streak. It’s been a strong year for Latin American cinema on the
festival circuit, with last year’s LAFF hit 7 Boxes enjoying a recent run at the box office (it opens in Ottawa today
at The ByTowne in case you missed it) and with Chile’s back-to-back Oscar picks
No and Gloria doing particularly well in limited release. The range of
films on display at this year’s festival, however, provide something for any
taste, as the Latin American Film Festival offers warm romance (see: Argentina’s
Heart of a Lion), sunny comedy (see:
Honduras’s Who Pays the Bill?),
dramatic Cannes winners (see: Mexico’s After
Lucia), and sweeping historical films (see: Venezuela’s Bolívar, a Man of Difficulties). CFI
Executive Director Tom McSorley also noted during the programming announcement that
this year’s festival would expand upon the positive reception for last year’s
festival and include several appearances by guests and filmmakers such as
acclaimed actor Luis Alberto García for the screening of Cuba’s Habanastation and filmmaker Arnaldo André
for the screening of Paraguay’s Reading
by Justino
The chance to enjoy films that one can rarely see anywhere else
is reason enough to take advantage of many of these screenings, but the LAFF
2014 offers a range of activities that take the festival’s celebration of Latin
American culture beyond the film experience. Included among the festivities is
LAFF’s first ¡Fiesta Latina! on Saturday, March 29 from 1 to 7pm at Library and
Archives Canada. The afternoon event is a one-day cultural experience that is free to Ottawans and invites cultural junkies
to sample an array of flavours offered by local Latin restaurants and, better
yet, Latin American wineries. ¡Fiesta Latina! offers Latin jazz performances
and fine art exhibitions to complement the food, wine, and Latin coffee that
filmgoers will enjoy at the fiesta, and there will also be plenty of
information on hand should film buffs wish to book a trip to one of the many
countries showcased during the festival. Just as many sights and sounds are
offered in the upbeat trailer for this year’s Latin American Film Festival (see
above), which was prepared by CFI programmer Jerrett Zaroski and should entice
festival goers to get multiple stamps on their passport at the festival this
year.
Film highlights for the 2014 Latin American Film Festival include:
Habanastation
Dir. Ian Padrón | Cuba | 96 minutes
Fri. March 28 at 7:00 pm
Synopsis: Winner
of multiple festival awards, Habanastation depicts the adventures of 12
year-old Mayito (Ernesto Escalona), the son of a wealthy jazz musician Pepe
(Luis Alberto García), who brings Mayito a Playstation3 back from his foreign
trips. Overjoyed, Mayatio brings it with him to show his friends after the May
1st national holiday, but he gets separated from his classmates during the
crowded celebrations. Accidentally boarding the wrong bus, Mayito finds himself
in La Tinta, an unfamiliar and poorer section of Havana where by chance he
encounters a school classmate, Carlos (Andy Fornanis). As this new friendship
grows, Mayito soon learns a whole new set of games from Carlos and his
neighbourhood ‘natives.’ Playstation is one thing, but real life play is
another. Amusing and energetic, Habanastation is an unforgettable, exuberant
journey through one of the world’s most lively, photogenic, and fascinating
cities.
Notes: Cuban
night looks like a particularly worthwhile event at LAFF with the
aforementioned appearance of Mr. García plus a special 30-minute musical
performance by internationally-renowned Cuban singer-songwriter Gerardo Alfonso
before the screening. (The screening will be followed by a reception to add
more bang for your buck!)
The Virgin of Charity (La virgin de la caridad)
Dir. Ramón Peón | Cuba | 1930 | 70 min.
Sat. March 29 at 2:00 pm.
*Regular CFI admission prices apply for this screening.
Synopsis: In this classic Cuban silent film melodrama, the
affections of Trina (Diana V. Marde), beautiful daughter of a wealthy rancher,
are sought after by two men. Yeyo (Miguel Santos) is a modest farmer, who is
not considered socially worthy by Trina’s powerful father. The other suitor,
Guillermo (Guillermo de la Tore), is an affluent man who has earned money
overseas. To prevent Yeyo from winning the girl's hand, the conniving Guillermo
questions his legal title to his lands. The deed has gone missing, and Yeyo has
no proof of ownership. In desperation, Yeyo prays to the Virgin Mary for help.
As a possible wedding day approaches, he’ll need a miracle to prevent Guillermo
from winning Trina.
Notes: The screening of this silent film will feature live piano
accompaniment by local musician Miguel De Armas, making for a unique matinee
performance of this rarely seen film. (Perfect to take in while enjoying ¡Fiesta
Latina!)
Bolivar, Man of Difficulties (Bolívar, el hombres de la dificutades)
Dir. Luis Alberto Lamata | Venezuela | 117 min.
Thurs. April 10 at 7 :00 pm
Synopsis: During the turmoil of the fall of the Venezuelan Second
Republic, “El Libertador” Simón Bolívar (Roque Valero) flees to Jamaica,
and subsequently to Haiti, with no money or friends. While there, he struggles
to mobilize the various and sometimes conflicting interests of the
Caribbean region’s colonies and the European powers who oppose Bolívar’s
project of liberating Latin America. A stirring dramatization of the the
little known Caribbean year (May 1815 – May 1816) of El Libertador, Bolívar is
a sumptuous period piece that depicts the passions, adventures, and trials of
one of Latin America’s greatest revolutionaries.
Notes: Bolivar looks like
an especially promising choice for fans of last fall’s historical hit at the
European Union Film Festival, God Loves Caviar.
After Lucia (Despues de Lucia)
Dir. Michel Franco | Mexico | 103 min.
Sat. April 5 at 7:00 pm
Synopsis: After the death of his wife Lucia, Roberto (Hernán
Mendoza) and his 17-year-old daughter Alejandra (Tessa Ia) move from the
pacific coastal city of Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City. Unlike Alejandra, who
quickly makes new friends and is adapting to her new urban environment, Roberto
is not coping well with his grief. As their new life continues, Alejandra
becomes involved in compromising circumstances at a house party with her new
friends, who suddenly and cruelly betray her. In addition to their grief,
Roberto and Alejandra are now thrust into a whole new series of dangerous and
disturbing challenges.
Notes: This acclaimed film won the Un
Certain Regard Award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and was Mexico’s official
submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Academy Awards.
Heart of a Lion (Corazón de león)
Dir. Marcos Carnevale | Argentina | 109 minutes
Sat. April 12 at 7:00 pm
Synopsis: Ivana
Cornejo (Julieta Díaz, from Dos Mas Dos) is a successful lawyer. She's been
divorced for three years, but shares the office with her lawyer ex-husband. One
day, Ivana loses her cell phone. Happily, she gets a call from the person who
found it. Happier still, it is from León Godoy (Guillermo Francella), an
architect with a very attractive personality: charming, charismatic, and
single. Attracted to each other during the chat, they agree to meet so he can
return Ivana’s phone. What follows their first meeting is one of the great
Argentine screen romances, filled with ups and downs and a growing awareness
that there are no shortcomings when it comes to love. An absolutely charming,
moving, and amusing love story.
Notes: Argentine cinema has enjoyed a surge in popularity ever
since The Secret in Their Eyes scored
the 2009 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, so keep an eye on this national
cinema for some of the most exciting and talked about Latin American cinema.
All
screenings for the 2014 Latin American Film Festival take place at Library and
Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street.
Tickets
are $12 for general admission; $8 for CFI members, seniors, and students; and
$35 for a 5-film passport (members only).
Please
visit www.cfi-icf.ca for more information
on this year’s festival.
The
2014 Latin American Film Festival runs March 27 – April 13.
