Saturday, September 15, 2007

Rosario Tijeras (Rosario)

I decided to watch this film with no expectations as had no idea what was about and even though it was a movie from Spain. No, it's not only from Spain, is a Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Brazil and France co production with a robust budget for a Latin American film.

The film tells the raw story of beautiful Rosario a woman born in Medellin, Colombia, abused by her stepfather, given by her brother to the drug lords and a killer for a living, in other words nothing extraordinary in many Latin American countries. There is a love story involved with all the look of a typical soap opera or telenovela where rich kids are involved, but I think that the linear plot is placed only to make easier the watching of a violent city, were drugs are freely sold/consumed and getting out of poverty is a must no matter what you have to do.

Not an easy to watch movie as is very raw, but quite accurate about the chaos in which many people live or try to live. This is live fast and die young Latin American style and very close to reality.

Still, for Latin American film standards is quite a good movie and Flora Martinez (Rosario) gives a good performance. The movie has five nominations in festivals in Spain, Mexico and France and won two awards in Colombia.

Not for all audiences, not because the violence but because the movie looks and feels like a cult movie. It’s a must be seen movie only if you know who Pedro Navaja is, as you can say that part of the Rosario character is a female Pedro Navaja. By the way just in case you are wondering what Tijeras means, is scissors and no, is not a Latin American or Spaniard last name.

9 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:07 PM

    hey how come are u saying this movies is pretty much, like most like out our life is in latin america, i am from colombia, and yes some people do stuff like this, but what you guys are shown on tv is way too much exagerated, we have peace, and we live confortably, and stuff like this is the minority not the mayority, and that is how it is on every conuntry actually""

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  2. Hi anonymous,

    What I say is that what the movie story depicts is not something that WE in Latin America find extraordinary, we know it happens all over the countries in the sub-continent. Also I say that is live fast and die young Latin American style that looks very close to reality.

    Si, yo también vivo ahora en alguna ciudad de América Latina y sé que en todas las que conozco (incluyendo Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, etc.) tienen su vida tranquila y también tienen sus zonas que no son tranquilas en donde pueden suceder cosas como las que se muestran en esta película. A eso me refería y eso es más o menos lo que dije en inglés expresado de otra forma que tiene mas que ver con el tema de la película, que con cualquier otra cosa.

    Lamento que mi comentario sobre esta película no fuera de su total agrado, pero mi intención era y es comentar sobre lo expuesto en la película y su posible relación a la realidad, que por cierto para experimentarla sólo tengo que conducir unos 10 mins desde donde vivo y veo una realidad similar a la película en vivo, a todo color y sin tv o cine de por medio.

    Saludos y muchas gracias por su comentario, todos son bienvenidos.

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  3. Well I have to say that I'm agreed with Mr. Anonymous. I think your comment Mr. Storyteller its a bit inaccurate.
    "...were drugs are freely sold/consumed..."
    Do you really think so?! Oh well... maybe in some areas... but come on... be a bit more accurate when posting so you don't get hard feelings with Latin Americans when talking so general!

    But more than that what really freaks me out about your comment Mr. Storyteller was:
    do you really really REALLY think you need to clarify what "tijeras" means!!??? I know SOME people are lazy enough to don't look at a dictionary when not knowing a word, but ... come on!! Im kind of curious about who were you thinking of when clarifying that!! You really made me laugh when reading that part of the post!!

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  4. Yeah Claudia, you're probably right when mentioning that my comments will generate "hard feelings" with Latin Americans, as we are very sensible to touchy matters! But, being a Latin American I cannot "close my eyes" to reality.
    Besides situations like the ones pictured in this movie does not belong only to Latin American countries. All over the world the dichotomy of good and bad lifestyles are reality and I believe that some movies from Asia, Europe and even USA do harsher portraits of their low life.
    Still, I just try to say things that come to my mind when watching a movie, and some, bring out stuff that not many appreciate... but one of the fantastic things about doing a blog is that you have the freedom to speak your heart out...

    The Tijeras thing was a very-very dark joke! (See, that's my kind of humor...) I'm glad you laugh hopefully as much as I did when I wrote it! :)

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  5. Uf!
    I'm glad you said that it's a "dark joke" because tbh I was about to close your blog when I read that part! but now that I now your "dark side" I laugh even more with that comment!... I have a copule of really great canditates for the "tijeras" clarification!!

    And yes... you said whatever you want the way you want... it's your blog and your thoughts... fare enough! Very agree!
    That's the fun part of having a blog: write whatever you feel and generate polemic around it.

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  6. ah!
    and one last thing Mr. Dark side... have you seen: "The Darjeeling Limited"... I was checking quicly and din't find it in your list although tbh I'm super impressed with your super long list of films! I wish I have more time to comment in all of them!!!!

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  7. Good Morning Claudia,

    First, thanks for all your comments, they're highly appreciated and please, take your time to browse the blog... I'm going nowhere and I'm really enjoying your comments as show me a lot of passion!

    Second, today I found that not only we Latin Americans are "sensible" to how films portrait reality... please check the BAFTAs post and the article in The Guardian newspaper to see that Slumdog Millionaire is generating same reactions from India citizens!

    Third, hope I don't dissapoint you but I'm no "mister"... using the same nomenclature, I'm a "miss" (lol!)

    Last, yeah saw The Darjeeling Limited but as you can imagine by now is not my kind of humor and then, I LOVE many movies from India (Bollywood or not) that this one just impressed me for some visuals. Please read the review that you can find if you write the movie name in the "Movie On Only" search box in the first column.

    :)

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  8. disappoint me? why?!! don't see why... disappoint me?!?? mmmm.... oh well... what ever...
    But thanks for your clarification, from now on you will be The Dark Side Lady...
    So, shall I assume that you are your own follower?!
    It was more fun when I was talking to a Ghost tough!
    Pity that I don't even remember where I post comments to keep the chat....

    Thanks for your feed back... I will eventually invited you as a jury for LaUchuva film festival!

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  9. Nope, I'm not my blog unique public follower lol! Why would I follow my own blog???
    Yeah, annonimity is another perk of internet... unless you're willing to do the social sites. :)

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