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Videolibrarian
Nov 02 2016

City of God – 10 Years Later

In 2002, Brazilian filmmaker Fernando Meirelles’ City of God (VL-5/04) received a triumphant screening at Cannes, won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and garnered four Academy Award nominations. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the film’s original release, directors Cavi Borges and Luciano Vidigal tracked down members of the cast, who here talk about their participation in the production and the impact it had on their lives. The most familiar face to North American viewers here is probably Alice Braga, whose supporting role as a drug dealer’s girlfriend helped her gain access to Hollywood roles in films such as I Am Legend and Repo Men. Also present is Seu Jorge, who played a killer in City of God and later appeared as Pelé dos Santos in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Some cast members attained local stardom in acting or music, while others drifted away from show business into less glamorous work. Meirelles himself abstained from participating in this well-made tribute that—to be fully appreciated—requires viewers to have seen City of God and also be somewhat familiar with the intricacies of Brazil’s racial and economic problems. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)

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Educational Media Reviews Online
Oct 18 2016

The Delay

The careworn, drawn face of Maria, a single mother raising three school-age children in a cramped, dingy apartment with her increasingly confused elderly father, communicates every element of this small but elegant film…Set in Montevideo, this unsparing look at the modern realities of getting old in a world without a social safety net has global application.

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Educational Media Reviews Online
Oct 18 2016

Southern District

Slow-paced and character driven, color plays a dramatic role in the background of this film. The façade of black and white with which the house is sumptuously decorated hides the fact that Carola can no longer afford her Beverly Hills-esque lifestyle. The family wears dazzling white almost exclusively until the reality of their changing situation hits them full-force and suddenly, everyone is wearing black. Human touch also figures in: early on, it’s merely manipulative, but in the final moments, has the ability to offer true meaning and compassion.

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Educational Media Reviews Online
Oct 18 2016

Wilaya

Actress Nadhira Mohamed convincingly portrays a young person caught between two worlds. Made on location in Tindouf province, and including a unique original music score, Wilaya is a notable example of emerging independent international cinema.

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Anthropology Review Database
Oct 07 2016

Triana, Pure and Pure

This riveting documentary…truly captures the resilient spirit of the persecuted gypsies of Spain and of the lasting legacy of their music and culture. Triana: Pure and Pure would be an invaluable resource for university students interested in Spanish culture, music, and dance.

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Anthropology Review Database
Oct 07 2016

Bajarí: Gypsy Barcelona

Bajarí: Gypsy Barcelona is a fascinating illustration of the intense effort, natural talent, and dedicated discipline of the musicians and performers that goes into producing a professional flamenco experience. The music interspersed throughout the film makes this documentary extremely entertaining as well as immensely appealing. This film should be recommended viewing for university students interested in the gypsy culture of Spain and the art form of flamenco music.

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European Press Photo Agency
Apr 04 2014

Alberto Rodríguez: Para avanzar enterramos ciertos cadáveres en el jardín

Washington, 3 abr (EFEUSA).- El cineasta español Alberto Rodríguez, director, entre otras películas de “Grupo 7″ y “7 vírgenes”, considera, metafóricamente, que a veces se entierran “ciertos cadáveres” en el jardín “para seguir avanzando”.

En una entrevista con Efe, Rodríguez se refirió así a su nuevo trabajo, “La isla mínima”, una cinta que narra la búsqueda de dos niñas desaparecidas que se estrenará en septiembre y de cuyo montaje se ha escapado para acudir a Washington a la proyección de “Grupo 7″, que hoy inauguró el Festival de Nuevo Cine Español.

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World Footprint
Apr 02 2014

AFI Silver kicks off North American tour of Spanish Cinema Festival April 3

Join World Footprints on April 3rd at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD, as the Festival of New Spanish Cinema launches it’s 10-city North American tour. The Festival starts Thursday, April 3, 7:30 pm with the 16 Goya nominated film Unit 7 and filmmaker Alberto Rodriguez in attendance. A reception to follow hosted by SPAIN arts & Culture. Now in its sixth year, and still as fresh as ever, North America’s leading showcase of Spanish cinema comes to Silver Spring, allowing audiences to discover and fall in love with the latest and most exciting films from Spain.

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THE EXAMINER
Mar 31 2014

The Festival of New Spanish Cinema returns to AFI this week!

Washington, D.C. — The Festival of New Spanish Cinema, organized by PRAGDA, AFI and SPAIN arts & culture (Cultural program of the Embassy of Spain) starts this week in Silver Spring, Maryland featuring seven hits from Spain.

The Festival kicks off the North American 10-city tour at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center this Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m., with the 16 Goya-nominated film Unit 7. Alberto Rodriguez, Spanish director and filmmaker, is expected to attend. A reception hosted by SPAIN arts & culture is scheduled to follow the screening of Unit 7 on opening night.

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Toronto Film Scene
Mar 25 2014

FESTIVAL OF NEW SPANISH CINEMA REVIEW: LIVING IS EASY WITH EYES CLOSED

In Spain 1966, John Lennon is filming a small role in How I Won The War. Antonio (Javier Cámara), an English and Latin teacher, is traveling to Almeria with the hope of meeting his idol. Antonio has been using Beatles songs to help teach English, but he’s hoping to convince John to include the lyrics in their albums, making his teaching easier. Along the way, Antonio meets Belén (Natalia de Molina), a pregnant young woman who has been sent away by her mother, and Juanjo (Francesc Colomer), a young man who has run away from home after an argument with his father. Together, these three people will find their place in the world, and learn that they have been living their lives without really paying attention.

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