This feature by the talented Mexican director Paul Leduc (
Reed: Insurgent Mexico and
Frida) was apparently “inspired” by more than adapted from
Concierto barroco, a novel by the celebrated Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier. A musical pageant without dialogue that recounts the history of Latin America, it includes elements of “magical realism” and the converging influences (musical and otherwise) of Native Americans, Spanish conquistadores, and African slaves. As in
Frida, the impulse to work without dialogue leads to broad strokes and a certain amount of simplicity; there are certainly moments of interest, but often it's as easy to be lulled by the camera movements, settings, and music as to be captivated by them. The actors and performers include Angela Molina, Francisco Rabal, Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes, and Van Van (1989).
By
Jonathan Rosenbaum
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