Product Details

• Directors: Mark Becker
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Enhanced, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kino Video
• DVD Release Date: April 3, 2007
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000MEYKBO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,778 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

ROMANTICO - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching. I'll be hoping for the soundtrack, January 25, 2007

By 

T. Calvert "T" (Denver CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Romantico (Sub English) (DVD)

This is a subtle, dignified documentary narrated mostly with the simple words and romantic lyrics of a humble man. We follow several months in the surprisingly unromantic life of a 64 year old Mexican mariachi musician and singer named Carmelo. We walk with him as he sings and plays his amazing guitar in San Francisco's restaurants, and eventually back home in his Salvatierra, Mexico, at funerals, weddings, among the prostitutes at the local bars, and at last, his daughter's Quinceañera. It is a bittersweet reunion, coming home, for his family struggles once more financially as it takes weeks to earn the the money it often took only a night to earn in the US.

Through it all, Carmelo never complains. He appears almost shy, but determined to save something to ensure a secure future for his daughters, no matter what the price he might pay to his own health and safety. The many obstacles faced in a working-class migrant's life on both sides of the border might normally overwhelm the casual American viewer, if not for the truly gorgeous music and the traveled face of the leading man. The lyrics to the many Mexican traditional ballads are subtitled and often laced with great humor. Carmelo is no amateur musician, though even he admits, this was not how he expected to make his living. There is an amazing scene where his band accompanies a large funeral procession on foot among hundreds of mourners. Carmelo's baritone voice can be heard without a microphone, for several blocks. This movie gives beautiful voice to one of the less-noticed but no less eloquent.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tale of Two Cities, March 31, 2007

By 

Brendan M. Howard (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Romantico (Sub English) (DVD)

Carmelo Muniz hijacked director Mark Becker's film. But, to be fair, Becker let him. In the director's interview on this DVD, the San Franciscan says he had originally planned to make a documentary about mariachi players in his mostly Latino neighborhood. The last interview of the night with Muniz, however, was the best. The illegal immigrant musician, who sent money home to feed his family and send his daughters to school, answered questions with eloquence, and his story reeled Becker in.

The hijacking continued when Becker's single week of filming in San Francisco extended into weeks that took him across the border to Mexico when Muniz returned home to see his sick mother. As a musician in his beloved hometown, Muniz makes pennies on the dollar what he made in front of San Francisco eateries. He yearns to return to the States, but fears as he gets older he can't make the dangerous trip.

But Becker doesn't dwell on illegal immigration or politics so much as let Muniz tell his story. In the film, Muniz says he's waited his whole life to tell his story, and he somehow knew it would happen. He's charismatic, hard-working, open to change, and has a dream to be big. In a way, this film made it happen for him in the States and in Mexico. It's testimony to Muniz's storytelling and Becker's careful filmmaking that anyone who watches this film will be glad to have spent time with Muniz.

DVD Extras: A filmed interview with the director reveals he's well-spoken, intelligent, and interesting. It also explains what's happened to Muniz since the film was made. Deleted scenes of Muniz's hometown of Salvatierra and his own walking tour, with camera, through its streets are treats. A Q&A from a screening of the film is too short.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars moving, thoughtful film, February 12, 2007

By 

rina m (Rockville, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Romantico (Sub English) (DVD)

This is a moving thoughtful film that makes you aware of the difficult choices that some people must make - the choice of providing for their family or being with their family. The main character, Carmelo, simply can't be in two places at the same time and the strain of his choice is evident on both him and his family.
This movie should not only touch your heart, but make you realize how lucky you are that this is not a choice you need make - but one that so many make on a daily basis.
Visually pleasing with a great soundtrack you are on Carmelo's journey with him and connect with the other characters in the film.
This is a definite must see documentary and it is no wonder that it won support from Sundance and Slamdance.