Customer Reviews

Flamenco

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Performance as art, flamenco as art and performance is what this film captures. Minimilist in tradional theatrical enticements this film captures the pure essence of the total flamenco experience. No fancy Hollywood set designs, extravagant staging is nil, this is pure art, the performances stand alone. At times the lighting only reveals a siloutte, never detracting from the pure essence. The film captures an indoor gitano gathering where all participants are involved, from just handclapping and chorus to center stage vocals and dance, all the gitanos interact and compliment one another. The beauty in this film comes from different angles, the authenticity, the various styles of flamenco, the emotions the artists emote and the feelings that are brought out in the viewer. So many different people perform that it is hard to identify indidviduals, which may be just the intent of the director as the cohesion of the gitano family in performance seems to be most important. One of the intriguing aspects of this performance is that there are so many "older" performers, who dominate and captivate the viewer. If one listens and closes ones eyes momentarily, it is hard to imagine one is listening to people well into their sixties and older. A brilliant moment is when a young gitano of maybe twelve years of age performs a stunning dance, a visually blazing with speed dervish solo and then is suddenly joined by an elder gitano who accompanies him. The juxtaposition is unforgetable as the young boy and elder each pay homage to each other, in unison, dancing off the set. The guitar work is fabulous by various masters including a sensational set by Paco de Lucia and even the modern interpretations of flamenco by Ketama. The rich vocals are guttural at times but the emotions of the sounds come from the deepest parts of the soul. The sounds of pain and passion, love and desire, grief and hope, solice and community, the soul of the gitanos comes through loud and clear. This is one to not be missed for complete flamenco that includes guitar, dance and vocals, Andalusian nights are calling, los gitanos te esperan.

This is THE flamenco film. Carlos Saura, famous for his work with the great Antonio Gades ("Blood Wedding," "Carmen" and "El Amor Brujo") and for his portrait of Andalusian folklore in "Sevillanas," creates one of the best flamenco films ever made.

The focus in this work is on the performers and their performances. Sets are minimal and there is no "story" except that generated by the lyrics of the flamenco songs themselves. The director is careful to capture not only the larger aspects of the performances but also to zero in on the emotional engagement of the performers with their art . Flamenco is as much about the performer's struggles with the art and the emotions that underpin it as it is about a stage presentation. This is an intimate film despite the fact that it was shot in a train station. The sets, lighting and camera work continually direct your focus to that intimate space created by the performers.

The conceit of the film is a journey not only through flamenco's different styles as embodied by some of the art's greatest contemporary performers, but also a journey into the night. Not only is the night evoked through lighting effects, but the deep inner recesses of the soul are suggested as well, that inner wellspring from which flamenco itself arises.

This is the most profound exploration of flamenco ever captured on film. To understand flamenco, there is no better place to start than with Carlos Saura's masterpiece, "Flamenco."

I dare you to find a better documentarian on the art of flamenco than Saura. Simply bringing this obsure but masterful artform to video is magical enough, but to have Saura do it is miraculous. He has chosen from the best that could be gathered in Spain, and did an awesome job putting them on a 2 hour tape. They only criticism is that this is not available on DVD, but no matter, it is a MUST for anyone who is a true flamenco purist or musicologist. The piece is beautifully staged, perfectly photographed and ingeniously edited.

C. Saura captivates the existential essence of flamenco in this elegant film, which is a chronology of the hours starting at sunset and ending at dawn; where each episodes is told within a flamenco capsule. This film is not a documentary, nor is it the live footage of a flamenco troop's performance, rather it contains a series of complete pieces, each of which are perfect. The film contains three soleares, three bulerias, two tangos, one seguiriya, one fandango, and a handful of other styles. This film is the wisdom of Saura, showing again, that films are not meant to be uni-dimensional accounts of a curious story, or an obvious documentary. The film is from the heart full of the love and sincerity of those who participated in it, containing the most intimate and dignified performances of each of the living geniuses of the Flamenco industry. Each artist freely reaches and evokes their most cherished aesthetics. This is very important because flamenco is just about that, not about fooling the audience. The distractions of the common footage are removed as Storraro (the cameraman) gives himself up, flying around the performers seizing the impossible: moving to the compas of the performers, showing all the angles of the true flamenco expression.

I first saw this film in the company of my own flamenco instructor, who actually rented it and brought it to my home. She had studied flamenco throughout her childhood in Spain, and as an adult performed professionally for many years, both in the United States and in Spain. Having her expert commentary as we watched the film together was fabulous, as she was able to explain who most of the dancers/singers are (all are highly respected and well-known artists) and how they are regarded in the flamenco world (traditionalist, modernist, etc.) as well as the many nuances and subtexts to the performances.

While the historical and biographical information supplied by my instructor enhanced my first viewing, the film absolutely captivated me on a purely visual basis. The direction and design of Carlos Saura is brilliant. In fact, if I were a filmaker I would be "borrowing" his design for my own projects! Using an abandoned railway station as his backdrop, simple screens and lighting frame and enhance the performances. And the performances, both singing and dancing, are fantastic. I will admit, the singing was somewhat of an acquired taste, but by the 4th or 5th time I watched this DVD (I purchased it immediately after my first viewing), I was enjoying the singing as much as the dancing. I think my absolute favorite performance however is when the very young Farruquito (now one of the current flamenco superstars) performs with his grandfather, the legendary flamenco master El Farruco. His pride, and love, for his grandson, and the heir to his artistic legacy of flamenco puro, is very palpable, and very poignant.

If you are a true fan of flamenco, you probably already own this DVD, as the original film was made over ten years ago. However, if you have only a passing interest in flamenco, and only plan to see one film, then I absolutely recommend this one. It unites the sheer artistic brilliance of performer and director into a truly remarkable event.

Carlos Saura has cornered the market for flamenco movies today, from his 'Carmen' and 'Bodas de Sangre'. The long career has given him access to Spain's top artists working today. Unfortunately he has not seen fit to change his doggedly austere style, throwing artists into a stark empty room hoping to induce a more somber, and presumably purer, more dignified and more respectable Art.

This may be good politics, but makes for bad art. Like it or not, the soul of flamenco cannot be torn from the Andalucian sun and earth and still live. Like Argentine tango and jazz, it is at its most vibrant and purposeful when it's at home among its people.

A much better intro to flamenco, which showcases this living link, would be "Duende y Misterio del Flamenco", "Los Tarantos" by legend Carmen Amaya, or the many Spanish TV documentaries like "Caminos Flamencos" or "Años de Flamenco" (with many of the same artists), available from Catalina's (catalinas@aol.com)

Without doubt, this is pretty close to the pure heart of flamenco. They have a group of Spaniards singing Villancicos, which is really very interesting. The singing is as authentic, and as soulful, as you will find at any tavern or Pena in Jerez or Cordoba, etc. As far as dancing, is not the primary point of this piece, but dancing in flamenco was traditionally a spontaneous action to the rhythm, like hand clapping.Dancing is also a percussion instrument. To the real aficionado dancing is just part or the accompaniment to the singer, like the guitar. If you want a classic, watery interpretation of flamenco, then look to the flamenco companies' and National Ballet of Spain performances. These are for the casual observer. This movie has some real Cante Jondo. There is a piece in the film with some modern Nuevo-flamenco dance; this was the only departure from traditional Flamenco. If you want more fire you will have to search for old Spanish movies or head for Andaluz.

Those not in the know tend to think of Flamenco in terms of women with fans and flying skirts and men in boots and macho attitudes. Well, yeah, but there's more, much more. This movie, filmed in a converted Spanish railway station, presents the full range of the Gitano's art, from traditional to modern, individual to group, expressing all the pain and joy of a true, very serious artform. A delight.

Although the rich and diverse cultural phenomenon of flamenco is extremely difficult to embrace within the limited frame of a single movie, this work of Carlos Saura is a great job on representing its styles and forms. Yes, you need to have some basic understanding of flamenco to enjoy it - it is not meant for mass entertainment, but for those who are looking a little bit more deeply into this wonderful art form. And, yes, the core of flamenco is CANTE, not the dance, as unprepared spectator might expect. A lot of joy in recognizing the distinguished participant artists, (if you know them). I could only wish this film to be longer and even more diverse. Very recommended for serious flamenco aficionados, for everybody who wishes to get to know flamenco in depth, and in variety.
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BTW - Joaquin Cortes is a great 'bailarin', but not 'bailaor' in my view, and THE LEAST authentic flamenco dancer here; he has a solid ballet background but too distilled from the real flamenco puro. However, I can see that he represents the most "digestible" "flamenco-like" image for the spectators who have very superficial idea of this culture.

This film is a delight for Flamenco aficionados. I can't think of any other video that I have watched over and over, as I do this one. It's all about soul, and it has captured mine.