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2855 |
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872 |
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1983 |
7224 |
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| Efectos secundarios (60%) |
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Plot:
The quietly dignified Don Plutarco, his son Genaro and grandson Lucio make a humble living as travelling musicians. They also collect supplies and ammunition for the guerrilla movement that has arisen...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:September 18, 2008Just a tad disappointed, expecting I'd be blown away or really charmed by the movie. It's very good, and need to write up an actual review, we definitely need more movies like this one out there...
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MCT:July 3, 2008Habia leido muchos elogios de esta pelicula mexicana. La rente pensando que veria una obra maestra nacional (ingenuamente todavia espero una cinta asi) y quede absolutamente pasmado ante lo malo que fue.
"El Violin" es una completa decepcion y una pelicula que parece haber sido hecha por un estudiante de cine luchando por hacer un trabajo importante pero fallando en los rubros de personaje, atmosfera o simple coherencia narrativa.
Ninguno de los personajes supera el nivel de estereotipo y la trama no va a ningun lado. Aun me rasco la cabeza leyendo todas esas reseñas positivas, ¿habran visto otra pelicula? -
MCT:May 16, 2008Indiana Jones does not compare to the character study of the same topics explores in the Spielberg epic, yet done so quietly prefect here in a real Indiana Jones film called THE VIOLIN.
Life-or-death matters are handled with compelling gravity in Francisco Vargas' "The Violin," one of the most powerful movies screened at last year's Seattle International Film Festival.
this Mexican drama takes the peasants' side in dramatizing a 1970s revolt. The script vividly explores the impact of government oppression on three generations of one rebellious family.
Plutarco, perfectly played by 81-year-old Don Ángel Tavira, is never the frail grandfather he appears to be. Managing to play the violin even though his right hand is a stump, he just gets by as a traveling musician, using his practiced performer's charm to smother guards' suspicions and get past checkpoints. (Tavira deservedly won an acting award at the 2006 Cannes festival for this performance.)
After raiding an ammunition dump in a cornfield, Plutarco supplies his son, Genaro, with handfuls of bullets. Distraught by the news that his wife has been captured, Genaro and his son, Lucio, seem increasingly helpless in a situation that only the old man can effectively manipulate.
At first, even Plutarco seems to be getting nowhere. When he discovers a guard captain who loves music and wants to take violin lessons, the ice begins to break ? just enough to allow each man's humanity to become briefly evident. But as the uncompromising finale makes clear, this film is not any kind of heart warmer.
Although it begins with a graphic torture scene that suggests more of the same is coming, "The Violin" becomes increasingly restrained in its use of violence. First-time writer-director Vargas makes a point about brutality, then refuses to dwell on it. The most shattering moment is one character's silent reading of a list of casualties; his changing expressions tell us all we need to know.
Working in black-and-white with a gifted cinematographer, Martin Boege, Vargas creates a darkened fairy-tale atmosphere, especially as campfires light up the faces of the actors and smoke drifts photogenically through forests. Glimpses of village life suggest a timeless quality, especially when the grandfather recites a legend about the origins of war.
Don't leave before the final credits of "The Violin," which briefly goes dark, apparently for emphasis, before it really ends with an expressive coda. The blank moment throws in a touch of mystery. Most likely it's meant as a tribute to Tavira, without whom the movie would be unimaginable.
Move over Indiana Jone THE VIOLIN is the read thing - look for it on DVD ,
Vince UCB
Berkeley Ca Vmedia -
MCT:February 24, 2008
An intense, raw masterpiece with extraordinary performances (specially Gerardo Taracena) and outstanding screenplay and beautiful cinematography. A marvelous work of pure art in mexican cinema. No money or big names: just pure love for filming.
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MCT:February 24, 2008
If the compelling story and the heartbreaking lead performance aren't enough reasons to see it, the photography alone, then, should be enough.
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MCT:February 21, 2008
Visualmente impactante, con un tema que toca las profundidades del alma. Una pelicula que de una u otra forma te toca el corazon y te permite ver con los ojos de quienes en verdad estan sufriendo el problema de las guerrillas en Mexico. Te muestra a los humanos como humanos y no como demonios. Te muestra las situaciones como son, con sus grandes demonios. Dialogos maravillosos y con un actor principal que no puede ser mejorado... se ve la luz en sus ojos, el actor es el personaje y el personaje el actor... para muchos esta no sera una obra maestra, pero a mi me impacto, me toco y me hizo pensar a lo grande; por ello para mi es una obra maestra.
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MCT:February 3, 2008Want to see at some point in the future...
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MCT:February 1, 2008
EXELENTE!!! es la lucha de todo mexicano por no salir fregado del gobierno, y aunque paresca mentira esta pelicula solo es un pasaje de lo que dia a dia el ejercito y gobierno mexico hace!!
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MCT:January 13, 2008
ill probably wind up seeing it in english or history sometime in the near future, so why not see it now
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MCT:January 12, 2008Sub-texted movies suck!
Maybe it'll come on satelite & I'll watch it to put me to sleep...probably will get interesting but I'll end up changing the channel because of the sub-text! -
Curious and probably worthwhile - and as a foreign language movie to most viewers, destined to land in the "art-house-circuit" in the cinemas so wont be seen by many... satellite film channel this time next year then....
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MCT:August 31, 2007
la escena final envuelve todo el mensaje...un pueblo oprimido solo puede dar hijos violentos...en vez de un violin, una pistola.
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MCT:August 24, 2007
Una excelente película que retrata la difícil situación de una familia involucrada en una guerrilla que lucha por mejorar su condición de vida y la respuesta violenta dle régimen que usa a pobres (militares) para acabar con otros pobres (guerrileros) y defender su riqueza e intereses. Un drama intenso, que maneja y juega con las emociones y un final trágico pero que deja un halo de dignidad y esperanza en el espectador.
Excelente actuación de Angel Tavira como el abuelo don Plutarco Hidalgo, protagonista principal. -
MCT:July 5, 2007
Don Plutarco, su hijo Genaro y su nieto Lucio llevan una doble vida. Por una parte, son humildes músicos rurales y, por otra, apoyan activamente al movimiento guerrillero campesino contra el gobierno opresor. Cuando el ejército invade el pueblo, los rebeldes deben huir y abandonar las municiones. Haciendo valer su apariencia de inofensivo violinista, Don Plutarco tiene un plan: recuperar las municiones escondidas en su maizal. Su música embelesa al capitán, pero falta recoger las municiones...
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MCT:June 14, 2007
This mexican film, winner at the 2005 CANNES Film Festival, "Un Certain Regard"- Best Actor: Angel Tavira, follows Plutarco (amazing actor Don Angel Tavira), his son Genaro (played by another great actor, Gerardo Taracena) and his grandson Lucio, who lead a double life, as musicians, and as supporters of the guerrilla movement against the government. When the army invades their town, the rebels decide to escape and leave the ammo behind, so, Plutarco, taking advantage of his "inoffensive violinist" looks, treats the captain to violin music everyday, so he can go to his corn field to pick up the ammo he has hidden days before. This low-budget independent movie was filmed in its entirety in black&white and features amazing and heartwrenching performances by Don Angel Tavira, Dagoberto Gama and Gerardo Taracena, it is directed by newcomer Francisco Vargas Quevedo, whose other work include a short film, that served as base for this one, also called "El Violin". Although it opened in 2005 and 2006 around the world, it didn't open until April 2007 in its country, Mexico, because no company wanted to release it and not one theater chain wanted to show it, because of its low-budget and beacuse it wouldn't appeal to larger audiences that seek blockbusters. Like its director, Francisco Vargas said, they know more of "El Violin (Le Violon)" in France, that they do in Mexico and that's sad... Guillermo del Toro approached the mexican senate and urged them to promote films like El Violin, but they've done nothing. Luckily, Cinepolis (LatinAmerica's biggest movie theater chain) picked it up and released it in limited theaters around the country, one of hose located in Tijuana, so yesterday i got the chance to see this marvelous mexican film and it was a wonderful, raw, real experience i'll never forget and i wish for all of you to see it.
Following the tradition of my friend Vince Flores, the best snack to watch this movie with is LifeSavers Gummies
Bye, and support mexican cinema!
Fernando :) -
MCT:May 9, 2007Pretty average and normal. It's not neither boring nor exciting, just another typical latin american movie about the war with typical scenes which I've seen before but without that "extra" thing that makes them unique or special, like another films of this kind did.
The storyline isn't that creative and the surprises are not the strong point, but I understand the difficult of bring new stuff into a this issue, still it was a nice try.
However, I liked a lot the black and white footage (I like any movie filmed in black and white actually) and the very special end was very touching and leaves you thoughtful; so if you are just beginnig to watch latin american movies about its armed conflicts, this is a good start, but certainly it is not the best of them.
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mechelle0021posted 257 days ago -
