Im going to begin by saying I'm a Colombian and this is my first review on this site, so be a little patient. Been a Colombian I'm totally used to national directors taking the mediocre path of doing a drug inspired movie, probably trying to rely on the (colombia = drugs premise). This movie has nothing to do with that.
The whole plot may seem kinda weak, (an accordion player trying to take 1 instrument back to his former mentor by riding a mule trough a big chunk of the Colombian coast regions alongside a teenager who wants to learn how to play from him); but the whole movie moves in such an amazing way that you sometimes forget about the plot just to focus in the way they depict the environments and the traditions linked to them.
Im from Bogotá (capital), so i didn't grow up surrounded by the "vallenato" culture, but this movie manages to show the entire culture from the Colombian coast based not only on the accordion, but also the "caja" and "guacharaca" in such a beautiful and complete way that you cant help but feel amazed at it.
The photography is marvelous, some scenes clearly try to focus on the amazing land sights of the Colombian coast, the acting is way better than i originally supposed, none of the actors are really known in the Colombian "jet-set", but still manage to be totally realistic and make their acting truthful to their characters. (even despite the fact that only a few of our actors are good IMO). I don't really see any flaws on this film, if all Colombian films were like this (not focusing exclusively on drugs), the whole world may have a different view on us.
I really recommend this movie, i totally loved it, and I'm still surprised by the way Ciro Guerra shows the accordion culture in such depth without feeling forced.
The whole plot may seem kinda weak, (an accordion player trying to take 1 instrument back to his former mentor by riding a mule trough a big chunk of the Colombian coast regions alongside a teenager who wants to learn how to play from him); but the whole movie moves in such an amazing way that you sometimes forget about the plot just to focus in the way they depict the environments and the traditions linked to them.
Im from Bogotá (capital), so i didn't grow up surrounded by the "vallenato" culture, but this movie manages to show the entire culture from the Colombian coast based not only on the accordion, but also the "caja" and "guacharaca" in such a beautiful and complete way that you cant help but feel amazed at it.
The photography is marvelous, some scenes clearly try to focus on the amazing land sights of the Colombian coast, the acting is way better than i originally supposed, none of the actors are really known in the Colombian "jet-set", but still manage to be totally realistic and make their acting truthful to their characters. (even despite the fact that only a few of our actors are good IMO). I don't really see any flaws on this film, if all Colombian films were like this (not focusing exclusively on drugs), the whole world may have a different view on us.
I really recommend this movie, i totally loved it, and I'm still surprised by the way Ciro Guerra shows the accordion culture in such depth without feeling forced.