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Recap: Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at the Palmer Events Center

February 10, 2013 By Annar Verold

Austin Samba School performed at Carnaval Brasileiro at the Palmer Events Center.

The Palmer Events Center, home of Carnaval Brasileiro, was flooded with the beautiful and rhythmic beats of samba, frevo, march and batucada. The festivities were accompanied by the exuberant grins and dancing bodies of Brazilians, samba enthusiasts, lovers, dancers and people searching for a great time that would bleed vibrantly into the night.

The award-winning Brazilian group Belleza Brasil kicked off the night with a phenomenal performance fronted by the beautiful and energetic Marianni Ebert. The talented musicians from Belleza Brasil performed tirelessly and eagerly throughout the night; their invigorating rhythm poured endless energy into their dancing audience for hours and hours on end.

Embedded between performances by Belleza Brasil, The Austin Samba School continued their annual performance with traditional samba choreography with the focal theme based off of the beloved child’s tale “Peter Pan”. The performance featured dancers playing main characters such as Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy, John, Michael, Nana the Newfoundland, the Crocodile (Tick-Tock) and, of course, Captain James Hook.

In addition, dancers were also dressed as mermaids in bright blue wigs with large pink flowers, pink sea-shell tops embellished with pearl-like beads, and matching blue skirts. Other dancers were wearing traditional blue sequined samba dresses complemented with plums, and silver beads. Accompanying The Austin Samba School was a brilliant performance by Acadêmicos da Ópera. The percussionists, continuing the Peter Pan theme, were dressed as pirates and performed with flawless precision as they were appropriately directed by the Crocodile named Tick-Tock.

For photos of the costumed attendees and fans, click here.

All photos by AJ Miranda.

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Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center
Carnaval Brasileiro 2013 at Palmer Events Center

Filed Under: City & Culture, Slider Tagged With: Carnaval Brasileiro, Palmer Events Center

Photo Recap: Carnaval Brasileiro 2012

February 9, 2012 By Annar Verold


Carnaval Brasileiro Austin landed on Feb. 4 this year. Upon entering the glass doors of the Palmer Event Center, the night suddenly encompassed constant motion, constant dancing—the never-ending rhythms of samba, batucada/bateria (percussion), march, frevo and trio electrico. Bodies swayed as sounds moved like fluid through the indoor stadium.

Carnaval Austin has been labeled the largest indoor Brazilian festival in the world, this year holding up to 5,500 enthusiasts. Traditionally, Austin’s Carnaval has a theme to which the samba dancers perform and to which the attendees can willingly dress up; this year, Carnaval’s theme was The Wizard of Oz.

The evening was organized by a series of musical performances. The endless dancing was provided by several 90-minute sets from Beleza Brazil (formerly Grupo Saveiro) vibrantly beating to the rhythms of sambas, marches and frevos on stage. In between sets, Carnaval featured a spectacular showcase with the percussionists and samba dancers of Acadêmicos da Ópera.

The group performed their interpretation and reenactment of The Wizard of Oz. Characters, such as Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin man, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard, Glinda the Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West—even the flying monkeys—were represented in the performance. Emerald green and silver colors coated the dancers. In order to enhance the visual appeal, groups of samba dancers were decorated in gaudy metallic silver to represent The Tin Man, straw skirts to represent the Cowardly Lion, bright yellow and silver costumes for The Scarecrow. Dorothy wore ruby shoes, the witches wore hats and the Wizard of Oz, himself, wore a stunning green suit with a matching hat.

The audience was carried away with the spirit of the festival; people were either dressed as Wizard of Oz characters or dressed in the original Carnaval style of dress—enormous feathered wings, boas, beaded brassieres, sequined masks, feathered hats and body paint. The majority of the audience wore face paint, glitter or elaborate makeup on their faces. Though, the most prominent choice of style, without a doubt, was wearing hardly anything at all. The night carried on with the echoing of laughs, rhythmic drums, the ruffling of elaborate skirts and feathered hats. The night was preserved with the essence of celebration, music and glorious Brazil.

All photos by Kristie Bocanegra.

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Filed Under: Events Tagged With: festival, photos

Austin Comida: Takoba

December 29, 2011 By Annar Verold

Photo by Mari Hernandez.

Among old houses with faded walls and law firms in tiny houses, there lies paradise. On 7th street within Austin’s east side, the restaurant Takoba beckons customers with a large, bright sign featuring a turquoise Aztec bird in flight. Established in June 2010, amidst the three-year-long 7th street reconstruction, the restaurant was destined for a rocky beginning.

“The construction on 7th street was already happening—in a way, that was good for us, because if you open when the construction is already happening it doesn’t negatively impact our business because there was none before,”  owner Jose De Loera said. “ Also, we were in a corner, which helped a lot with the construction by making us more accessible. Now the street is open and beautiful.”

Despite opening during 7th street construction chaos, Takoba opened to the World Cup Soccer games, which drew in a huge crowd.

In addition to a restaurant that showcases the Wold Cup, Takoba provides the East Side with Latino film screenings through Cine Las Americas. The relationship between Cine Las Americas and Takoba, De Loera explains, is his decade-long friendship with executive director of Cine Las Americas, Eugenio del Bosque.

“September 2010, we showed the first film for Mexican Independence day. You don’t find these kinds of things anymore. Other people do outside screenings, but I feel like there is always something missing,” De Loera said.

Currently, Takoba has been showcasing one film each month, but De Loera unveiled hopes to presenting a film a week.

For those who just want to dine, Takoba offers Central Mexican cuisine and a full bar. In fact, their michelada was voted “Best Michelada” by the Austin Chronicle’s food critic, Claudia Alarcon.

“We try to keep everything as fresh as we can. The most popular drink is the michelada. It is a little spicy in comparison to most mixes, and we have our own recipe,” De Loera said.

The space appears to be set into two sections, indoor dining with low lighting and a calm, ambient atmosphere up front and a bar towards the back. Near the spacious bar is a patio with several picnic tables. The colors throughout the restaurant are warm palettes of browns, blacks, and golds.

De Loera serves dishes such as Bistec Encebollado, Enchiladas de Pollo con Mole and Pozole Rojo, because to him, that’s home.

“My family is from Aguascalientes,” De Loera said.  “But, there are other stuff on the money, for example, seafood. A lot of our food that is not from Central Mexico is more for the appeal—such as the seafood and some of the vegetarian options.”

For seafood, Takoba offers Tacos de Pescado (fish tacos), Pescado al Mojo de Ajo (sautéed tilapia) and Baja Ceviche (composed of shrimp, avocado, and lime juice).

From dinner, drinks and the occasional game or movie, Takoba provides all this with class and sophistication. To view their menu and events calendar, visit www.takobarestaurant.com.

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Austin Comida is a new feature series on Austin Vida that spotlights Austin’s local restaurant scene. Be sure to follow Austin Vida on Facebook and Twitter to see which restaurant we spotlight next. All photos by Mari Hernandez.

Filed Under: City & Culture

Q&A Interview: Music, Monterrey & Fashion with She’s A Tease

September 12, 2011 By Annar Verold

Bilingual electronic-pop band, She’s A Tease, has been turning heads in the Mexican alternative rock scene for years now. Establishing recognition in 2004 with their first EP, Long Time Rolled, She’s A Tease has since then been touring Mexico and taking part in the International Music Fest MXBeat– a festival which has also showcased artists like Soulwax, Chromeo, and Santigold.

Since then, the electronic-pop band has not slowed down the momentum of touring, producing, and creating with their music; on September 6, 2011, the band gave their album, Millionaria, a proper digital release in the United States via Nacional Records. Nacional will release the album physically on September 16. Millionaria, released in Mexico in late October of 2010, features collaborations with Milkman, Disco Ruido, and Toy Selectah.

She’s A Tease frontman Luis Gustavo Leyva Suárez (goes by the name “Scott”) sat down with Austin Vida while they were in town recently to discuss their inspirations, origins, the thought process behind their music video for “Fiebre de Jack,” details about their album, the Monterrey music scene, and what’s next for the band in 2011.

You guys have a very electronic based sound, what influenced you guys to go into that direction?

Scott: We were listening to a lot of old house music from the ’80s. We also listened to a lot of Italian electronic pop music. We were introduced into that style of music right then when we were making our first record. I think that is why this record came out particularly this way. We don’t consider ourselves an electronic based band, but you can see that we were influenced by that kind of music.

How did you all come together?

Scott: We have known each other for a very long time. Chico (Miguel) and I have known each other since we were babies. Then I met Johnny (Juan Antonio Vázquez Salinas/guitar) in high school and we started playing back then. Eventually we took our place. When we knew we had to go pro, we knew we had to all work with each other, because we knew each other well.

Let’s talk about the making of your latest album, Millionaria. What can you tell me about the album?

Scott: That is something that is very important for us. When we decided that we wanted to make this record we had a very clear idea of what we wanted to express, and that we were very interested in sending a message to people that are similar to us. We wanted to express our message very clearly; I think we were able to communicate in a way that people can relate to our record. We were very influenced by our surroundings. Living in Mexico and dealing with the dangerous situations that are going on, we didn’t just want to make a song or a record, but we wanted to put something on the table that actually mattered to us.

How does the song writing process go?

Scott: I guess it is always different. We like to be really focused on something; we don’t like to write or just compose a song without a goal. We don’t like to give ourselves too much freedom. We like to have a particular focus, always. Even though we mix our styles, we don’t like to mix them a way that is overwhelming. It is complicated, but it is not too much of a free process. We like to work being really focused and having goals during the song-writing process. We always have ideas in our head and we like to get straight to the point.

What were you trying to convey through your music video for “Fiebre de Jack” ?

Scott: It was actually a friend’s idea. He is crazy and we always take his advice, his word. We thought it was really cool, the whole concept. We fell in love with the idea that he proposed to us. We felt that it was unusual and that it had a certain feeling that we all really liked. We just ran with his idea and it turned out really well.

In the music video and in your photographs, you guys seemed to be very fashionable– what is the inspiration behind your style?

Scott: Our style is very rock n’ roll, rock n’ roll. We are not very fashionable, but we all like to dress up and express ourselves through the way we dress. I guess that’s it. Our fashion just reflects our personalities.

Can you tell me about the music scene in Monterrey? How did you manage to stand out in a city known for its vibrant music scene?

Scott: Oh, it’s awesome; it’s a great scene. I don’t want to say it is the most important scene in Mexico, or anything like that at all, but it is very important; Monterrey has a lot to offer. There are a lot of fans, a lot, lot of bands– a lot of punk rock bands. The cool thing about Monterrey is that it is not that big, so all of the musicians are good friends. Something that helps us a lot, is that our friends– guys who have already gone through these processes– they always talk to us about their experiences and how they got to where we want to be and they try to help us to grow. We all share experiences, so that is always helpful.

How do you expect to continue your success? Do you want to build up a fan base in the U.S. ?

Scott: We don’t see ourselves being just a local band from Monterrey. We feel like we belong to ourselves and to the world. We don’t feel like who we are ends or stops in Mexico. We are planning on writing a lot of music that has the potential in being important to everyone in the world. I think that the plans are very big. If we can get there, that would be cool. Our biggest aspiration is to try to share with the world.

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages behind being a bilingual music group?

Scott: There are a lot of advantages to that. Especially because we don’t stick to just writing in Spanish or in English. If we could speak Portuguese, we would also be writing in Portuguese. I guess it helps to write in both languages. We understand we have to write in both languages to communicate with the people, and that is very important to us. Right now we are in the process of writing another record; we are not going to limit ourselves to writing in one language.

What did you hope to accomplish by performing at South by Southwest?

Scott: Hopefully, someone caught our shows and had a good time. That is our first goal, whenever we play. If anyone enjoyed the show and really liked the songs, then we are very happy. I think that coming to another country is awesome for us, alone. To get a chance to show our music to people outside of Mexico is very important to us.

What does the rest of 2011 look like for She’s a Tease?

Scott: It looks awesome. We are having a great time already. We are enjoying our friendship a lot. We are also about to get to the process of writing another record. For us, that is the most fun we could ever have.

Lastly, Austin Vida  interviewed Camilo Lara (Mexican Institute of Sound) during South by Southwest and we asked him who his favorite artist to see was– and he said it was “She’s a Tease” — did you guys know that? How does that make you feel?

Scott: Wow, really? That is awesome. We are very, very flattered.

Watch the music video for “Fiebre de Jack” below.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: electronic, indie rock, interview

Pachanga Fest 2011 Recap (photo gallery inside)

May 31, 2011 By Annar Verold

The Echocentrics featuring Adrian Quesada (photo by Mari Hernandez)

Pachanga Fest is a portrait of the Latino Community in Texas. Musicians spanning from their mid-teens, to some that have been around for a while– women, men, a dancing chicken man with biceps, rock-stars, sweet-southern-country voices, cumbia, cumbia, cumbia– the atmosphere flooded with sonority that exuded a richness and value that can only be found together on one day, in one place– and that would be at Pachanga Fest.

Early afternoon, among the grey and muggy haze, the voice of Gina Chavez resonated throughout the park from the Kid’s Stage, as she taught the children how to write song-write.  The songstress then went on to perform her undeniably catch tunes– such as “Miles de Millas” and a crowd favorite “Embrujo”. Another distinct voice followed later that day– fifteen-year-old Rian C’s strong southern voice carried powerfully through his set as he touched base with Elvis, Amy Winehouse and Nirvana. Rian C. might be composed of high-school freshmen, but they were born talented.

The sun eventually broke through the heavy, grey overcast, and Chingo Bling, Los Skarnales, and La Guerrilla, carried the afternoon festivities with laughter and entertainment. All three brought an immense amount of energy to their performances, with various elements which highlighted their talents. Though, all three groups are vastly different in the art they produced, their common trait was their notable audience interaction and how well the audience was receptive to the energy they manifested.

The festival seemed to showcase a lot of electronic/synth with free-styling beats this year. Chico Mann and Mexicans with Guns brought a very red-light district, European house-party feel as the sun began to set, and attendees began to loosen up. There were several abstract factor in some of the day’s performers as well. Revolutionary lyricists of Este Vato encompassed the perfect concoction of rhythms and lyrics to convey particular ideas. In addition, The Echocentrics brought a hazy, psychedelic feel, dipped in rich Latin sounds.

Despite the heat, no one was too hot to dance to Master Blaster Sound System’s unique cumbia sound. With a twist of an electronic sound, the band’s latin-dance-party feel inspired an entire tent full of people to let go and dance. The movement smoothly transitioned to the Peligrosa All-Stars DJing with danceable, Latin beats. In the masses of this collective consciousness moving to the same rhythm, the same beat– there is comfort and safety, and from that, confidence, sexiness, and provactiveness stems.

I think the remarkable thing about live music is witnessing the magic fall into place– aligning itself with sound as the artist bangs relentlessly on keys, or the dumb-founding and natural way their fingers strum strings. There is beauty in witnessing a genius perform their art. It feels as though you are watching a vulnerable being complete unravel and reveal themselves. There is almost a bit of shame as you watch someone fall in a complete trance– especially during Maneja Beto’s performance. Without a doubt they are painfully brilliant, to where you find yourself blushing, and then gawking without shame in awe. You almost loose that rhythm, and your swaying becomes an uninterrupted stare.

Ozomatli’s headlining performance was the perfect way to wrap up the festivities. Humor, spectacular lighting, the sweet sound of brass, and the beat, of course. The audience would light up and roar and dance tirelessly as familiar music flooded the pavilion. Those are the moments you never quite forget– dancing with two hundred people on hot summer day, among the smell of grass, the light breaking beneath the horizon, all of us alone and together– to the same pulse, the same beat, that reminds us that we are all the same, and with a sexy Spanish twist in our hips.

Such things as Pachanga Fest need to exist. Music is beautiful, and it is an art– but Pachanga Fest in itself is a collective art– it is more than music. Pachanga Fest is the honey of society, preserving the sweet fruits and bearings of the Latin culture. There is no shame there to speak in Spanish; there is no embarrassment in hip shaking in broad daylight, and absolutely no shame in inhaling your weight in food.

Photos by Mari Hernandez.

Nina Diaz from Girl In A Coma

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Mexicans with Guns & Toy Selectah

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Ady Hernandez

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Filed Under: Events Tagged With: photos

Movie Review: ‘Retratos en un mar de mentiras’

May 2, 2011 By Annar Verold

Retratos en un mar de mentiras (Portrait in a sea of lies) is an alluring and well-written narrative and reflection of the modern day Colombian society. As many people displaced by the Colombian Civil War, which began in 1964, Marina’s childhood trauma is attributed to the losses she experienced because of the political conflict. As a result of the prolonged civil clash, Colombian has experienced at least several hundreds of thousands of deaths, and at least 4 million people have been displaced from their homes.

Screenwriter and director, Carlos Garivia, tells the story of Marina, a haunted young woman on a quest to reclaim her family’s land with her freelance photographer cousin, Jairo. The film begins with rainy days in Bogota, Colombia, which brings attention the run-down, dangerous, mudslide territory which Marina and her grandfather dwell in. Once unveiling the abusive relationship between Marina and her drunken grandfather, the beginning unfolds into a huge freak accident. This resulted in a torrential mudslide that splits their fragile home in half and slides off of the cliff, grandfather and all.

Upon the funeral, the audience falls witness to the series of abuse experienced by the unspoken and naive Marina. Pushing the buttons of her employer and what seemingly appears to be her new guardian/a relative, she is demanded to be taken back to claim her old land and be ridded of with her cousin. The following morning, in an old Renault 4 vehicle, Jairo and Marina set off on a road-trip home.

Throughout the film, their are split fragments of Marina’s haunting past and a series of her encounters with the dead. She can clearly identify the dead, occasionally viewing her grandfather, people from her childhood community that were killed by the war, and towards the end, her massacred family. In addition, certain experiences trigger her traumatic past, resulting in her dramatic reactions to soldiers and her distant way of being.

Marina and Jairo experience a guerrilla on their drive along the coast. During this scene, the audience begin to get a general idea of what originally happened to Marina, and demonstrating the compassion both characters have towards each other. Upon arriving to Marina’s hometown, Jairo unknowingly befriends a group of paramilitaries who later kidnap them in search of the land deed. The struggle the two undergo eventually exemplifies a sincere compassion and understanding Marina and Jairo have towards each other.

Paola Baldion’s role as Marina is a captivating and emotive performance. Capturing the terrified and haunting essence of Marina– primarily in silence, a few lines, and a horrified look in her eyes– Baldion managed to convince the audience of the true heartache and confliction witnessed by her character. The entire film builds up to one scene in particular, when Marina has to face the origin of her horrors alone, in order to save Jairo. The moment when Marina is screaming and absolute terror is utterly bone chilling and undeniably convincing; Baldion’s performance is flawless. All while, Julian Roman’s character, Jairo, is convincingly annoying, yet embarrassingly charming throughout the course of the film. By the end of Retratos en un mar de mentiras, both main characters manage to enthrall and engage the audience through their journey.

Retratos en un mar de mentiras not only narrates the life of one scarred and lonely girl, but speaks of an entire country’s sufferings. Yet, with the beautiful scenery and brief moments of comic relief, the Colombian people are illustrated as graceful, strong, and beautiful people.

Watch the trailer for Retratos en un mar de menitras below:

This film was reviewed at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. Cine Las Americas is a multi-cultural, 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Austin Texas. The mission of Cine Las Americas is to promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating, entertaining and challenging diverse audiences through film and media arts.

Filed Under: Events

Movie Review: ‘No Meio do Rio Entre as Árvores’

May 1, 2011 By Annar Verold


No Meio do Rio Entre as Árvores (Within the River Among the Trees) creatively document the values and way of life of these communities in a world where everything is quickly modernizing, and a land that has been exploited for economic exploration. Jorge Bodanzky, director of hundreds of documentaries and other films such as Iracema, Uma Transa Amazônica, O Terceiro Milênio, and Igreja dos Oprimi, magically captures the richness of Ayuca community, located within the Amazon Basin. Among the 16.4 million acres of protected rainforest, there are 35 communities attempting to preserve their way of life, people, and their richness of their culture.

The most valuable aspects of the documentary was the intimate way it captured a community. The film was documented in a way different from most documentaries; instead of the film being narrated or guided by captions, the indigenous people of the Amazon guided the documentary. At the beginning for the film, the cinematographer expressed his purpose there, stating that he had sincere motives and simply wants to capture whatever the community wants to express. Brainstorming for ideas, a reoccurring theme in the community was their value of connectedness, unity, and community. Captured was a beautiful and unseen way of life; bathing in the river, children playing together, mothers helping each other, men fishing together.

It was expressed that the community’s source of income was primarily making and selling flour, only using a very small portion for their own needs. Despite being protected by laws, the audience witnesses the struggle for the indigenous people to keep out teams of fishermen and people taking advantage of their natural resources. The indigenous repeatedly mentioned how the laws protecting the indigenous and the land are loosely enforced. Repeatedly, the need for education is expressed. The indigenous understand that prosperity will be found in educating their children, so that they can intelligently defend and support the rest of the community. Unfortunately, higher education must be sought out in the city, and children pursuing academia must leave their homes, some of which end up simply settling with the rest of society and do not return. Expenses for studying in the city are relatively high in comparison to the very little money the indigenous make. Regardless, the Maya descendants understand that education is the only way to salvage their way of life.

Ultimately, the film entailed what the indigenous people of the Amazon wanted to showcase. Some of the documentary was actually footage taken by curious adolescents exploring the functions of the camera, or a elderly woman zooming into the stirring of the flour. The essence of the film brilliantly showcases the innocent culture and way of life of some of the most isolated communities the world has to offer.

Watch the trailer for No Meio do Rio Entre as Árvores below:

This film was reviewed at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. Cine Las Americas is a multi-cultural, 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Austin Texas. The mission of Cine Las Americas is to promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating, entertaining and challenging diverse audiences through film and media arts.

Filed Under: Events

Movie Review: ‘Pueblos Hermanos’

May 1, 2011 By Annar Verold

Exuding in uniqueness, and fueling an unsatisfiable curiosity, Pueblos Hermanos (Brother Towns), produced by Charles D. Thompson Jr. and filmed by Michael Davey,  demonstrates a fresh perspective of immigration in the United States. Documenting the relationship between two towns linked by immigration, the audience witnesses the connections and struggle of immigrants from the perspective of Maya town, Jacaltenango in Guatemala, and it’s sister town, Jupiter, Florida. Archiving the various reasons why the Jacaltecos are migrating to the United States, Pueblos Hermanos gives an intimate perspective that resonates with empathy and understanding. An increasingly controversial issue, the documentary also captures the complexities of immigration from both ends of the spectrum; witnessing supporters and opponents of the on-going topic.

The immigration to Jupiter began in the traditional concept of immigration; people seeking a better life. As the opportunity for landscaping and construction work grew in Jupiter during the 1980’s, Guatemalans in search for prosperity began to settle in the town. Naturally, the Latino population began to grow as these workers shared the news of opportunity back to their hometown, and so on and so forth. Eventually, Jupiter had to acknowledge the drastic increase in immigrants and respond to community complaints, though unverified, of the new population’s noise, littering, and threat to traffic. The clever result, established in 2006, was Jupiter’s El Sol Neighborhood Resource Center. The community worked closely and cooperated to handle the situation with grace and optimism. The outstanding part of this film isn’t even quite the cinematography, but being a witness to the simple beauty captured by the film; an entire city focused on helping one another in a safe, efficient and caring way, for the sake of everyone, regardless of race or color.

Pueblos Hermanos is not narrated like most films, the narration is a series of interviews and is guided by the brief discussions by an immigrant, Filomeno Raymundo Diaz. The cinematography captures the images of both worlds– contrasting them, yet showing them alike. The most beautiful aspect of the film was the concept of humanity showcased throughout the film. The audience has the opportunity to understand more humble reasons towards the migrations– that people are not just leaving because they “want to steal jobs” or for selfish reasons or ulterior motives, but for the sake of survival. The people from Jacaltenango, Guatemala are experience an immense poverty, one that cannot be pacified by only the production of the land or by any other local resource; their greatest opportunity for saving their people is by leaving. Unfortunately, in the United States, we see the day laborers, yet we do not witness the struggle and the suffering of immigrants leaving their mothers and fathers and children and wives behind; we do not witness these workers sending money back home, or investing in water wells or new concrete slabbed homes; we do not see an immigrant’s modest attempts to better the world of the people back home. That is the brilliant thing about Pueblos Hermanos, it unveils an honest perspective that denounces anyone who opposes immigration, despite letting them use their voice. Pueblos Hermanos simply showcases the honesty of two communities helping each other survive.

Watch the trailer for Pueblos Hermanos below:

This film was reviewed at the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival. Cine Las Americas is a multi-cultural, 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Austin Texas. The mission of Cine Las Americas is to promote cross-cultural understanding and growth by educating, entertaining and challenging diverse audiences through film and media arts.

Filed Under: Events

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