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Chavela

2017

Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi

Documentary, Self: Chavela Vargas, Pedro Almodóvar, Elena Benarroch ...

7.3

1,489

Documentary Singer Chavela Vargas gained a name for herself firstly in Mexico and later worldwide chiefly for her interpretation of traditional rancheras. These songs were mainly composed by men and mostly speak of unfulfilled love for women, world-weariness and loneliness. Chavela performed them with her own unique feeling for rhythm and her distinctively rough and yet vulnerable voice. The unpublished material in this film, as well as the ... [+]

	Media	Author	Review
		Jonathan Romney Screendaily	"Films about the expression of agony rarely feel this uplifting (...) 'Chavela' is a vivid portrayal of an artistic, social and sexual rebel"
		David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"While the package is fairly conventional in assembly, the talking-head elements are graced by the choice to shoot in homey spaces like kitchens and living rooms or outdoors"
		Jay Weissberg Variety	"The documentary packs in a lot of information but doesn’t feel crowded, and the concert footage will help recruit legions of new fans."
		Moira MacDonald Seattle Times	"This tuneful portrait of Chavela Vargas (...) admiringly explores her impact on the world of Mexican music (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Wes Greene Slant	"The film neglects to provide enough contextual information on Vargas's career (...) The film's hopscotching-in-time structure (...) is refreshingly unconventional (…) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		Claudia Puig The Wrap	"The captivating documentary 'Chavela' (...) mesmerizes with its impressionistic blend of archival photos, musical performances, concert footage and candid interviews"

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