The tequila case, an ethyl thriller

The tequila case, F.G. Haghenbeck

The tequila case, F.G. Haghenbeck

Acapulco, 1965. In the last few months, the world was about to implode with the Cuban missile crisis and said goodbye to the two most famous and glamorous figures of the time, Marylin Monroe and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The Tarzan heroe and swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller is resting in his hotel, Los Flamingos. The actor is depressed, nobody gives him a role. He needs money to pay his alcohol and the expenses of his new wife. And he has made business with the wrong guys as he owes half a million dollars to the mafia. Continue reading

Miss Bala, the complex reality of narco societies

Noe Hernandez and Stephanie Sigman

Noe Hernandez and Stephanie Sigman

Narco traffic is an amazing topics for arts nowadays in Latin America, and especially in Mexico. A large part of documentaries production is dedicated to the subject, bookstore shelves are filled with essays. But movie director had not really focused on it, excepted some big romanced Hollywood productions like Traffic, or the very specific genre of narco cinema. Miss Bala is one of the first well documented and clever fictions. Continue reading

Everything in its right place

La belle amour humaine, by Lyonel Trouillot

La belle amour humaine, by Lyonel Trouillot

Haiti has probably one of the best authors of America today (Gary Victor, Dany Laferrière, Frankétienne…). And Lyonel Trouillot is one of them. He is one of the most famous of his generation and a complete artist who has written poems, songs, novels and non fiction works. In his latest novel, “La belle amour humaine” (Beautiful human love), he describes the road trip of Thomas and Anaïse. The young lady comes from a Western country and she is looking for the memories of her grandfather, the businessman Robert Montes. Continue reading

Las Acacias, original and predictable at the same time

Las Acacias / Bodega Films

Las Acacias / Bodega Films

Here we have the best Latin American movie in 2011… Well, it is supposed to be. Las Acacias got the award in the Biarritz Film Festival last year. It also received the Golden Camera and the Young Critics Award in Cannes and the Sutherland Trophy in the British Film Institute Awards. Nothing more ! Continue reading

Ana Tijoux, the voice of protest

Ana Tijoux

Ana Tijoux

Is there a new generation of hip hop artists in Latin America? Some of them have appeared for two or three years. Calle 13 is probably the most famous band but many others have spread, in every country. Ana Tijoux is not precisely a “new” rapper (actually all of them have run for years) but her fame has recently grown in Europe and in the USA. Her first two solo albums, Kaos (2007) and 1977 (2009), were acclaimed by critics. And she just released her third one, La bala. Continue reading

Chile, the heart of street art

Inti

Inti

I love exhibitions when they play their role and are a window to the world. That is exactly what “Paraiso urbano, Chili graffiti & street art” does. The gallery “Itinerrance” in Paris displays very few pieces of Chilean street artist Inti (about 15) and it only reflects a part of his work as it is always difficult to confine street art into a gallery. But it can be an excuse to explore the whole movement. Continue reading

A tsunami for prejudice

Undertow (Contracorriente)

Undertow (Contracorriente)

Miguel and Mariela are married. They will soon have a baby. But their happy life in Capo Blanco, a small village of Peru is not as quiet as it seems. Miguel has a lover. And his lover is called Santiago and has a beard. Continue reading

Fania All Stars, a part of history

Fania All Stars

Fania All Stars

It smells like nostalgia. After having talked about the release of a compilation dedicated to bachata legends, another one dedicated to old hits of cumbia, another wave is coming with the Fania All Stars. The mythical band celebrates this year the 40th anniversary (actually it is been four years it has celebrated its 40th anniversary ! one can consider it is the anniversary of the Live at the Cheetah, August 1971). Continue reading

Discover punk mariachi

OK, it is a bit much to talk about punk music. It is probably more a marketing argument. But it is a kind of. Well, nothing bad in the sound played by “Mariachi El Bronx“, presented as the one who brings punk music to mariachi style. He founded his band five years ago from another band, The Bronx (which effectively makes punk music). Continue reading

When bachata was not so commercial

The bachata legends

The bachata legends

I must confess that I am neither a fan nor a specialist of bachata. This style does not pass the curiosity and the exotism of new sounds to me and it bores me after 5 minutes. It is probably the destiny of each musical style when it becomes commercial: every producer wants to copy the standards of a success. And recent hits have certainly damaged the whole style. Continue reading