"THIS IS A POIGNANT FILM WHERE RUBEN BLADES SHINES"
Directed by: Victor Nunez
Running time: 116 min.
Release date: July 23, 2010 (limited)
Genre: Drama, Crime , and Gangster
Distributor: Variance Films & New Mexica Media Partners
MPAA Rating: Not rated
In the literary world, the term "spoken word" refers to
modern-day poetry or slams. Sparked by the words of poet Joe Ray Sandoval, a New Mexican whose poetry of dysfunctional love, family roots, and the hardnesses of life, along with co-screenplay writer William T. Conway craft a poignant story of self-expression, healing and family relationships in a Latino setting.
The movie takes place outside of Sante Fe, New Mexico where Cruz portrayed by Kuno Becker (b.Eduardo Kuno Becker Paz), the well known Mexican lead actor of the "Goal" trilogy, is a successful touring poet and poetry teacher from San Francisco/Oakland Bay area where he shares his life with a beautiful artist named Shae (Persia White). His return to New Mexico where he has a shadey past of drug usage and dealing, is because of his dying reclusive former schoolteacher father Cruz Sr., brilliantly played by Ruben Blades, is dying. This stimulating plot places various characters in both Cruz Jr. and Sr.s' way of reuniting,, such as Emilio (Miguel Sandoval) a local crime boss and Cruz's younger brother Ramone who is relunctant to showing his brotherly love. The life process of all concerned in the film is a journey of redemption and recovery laced with crisp fast pacing and action.
It is enlightening to see in various scenes the elements of poetry, such as, rhythm, meter, rhyme, alliteration, simile, metaphor, tone, theme, and symbolism being exposed to the audience pleasurably.
Clearly, this emerging narrative offers the cast a platform to give terrific performances. I was extremely impressed with Ruben Blades portrayal of an elder sharing wisdom with his sons and challenging inevidable death. As thought provoking the storyline may be, Blades performance is twice as riverting and stimulating.
This film gives an authentic look at the Latino culture in the South West, illustrating how cultural roles and machismo can give way when families can move beyond words, both broken and unspoken.
Review by Gerald Wright
July 23, 2010
Top Critic
