Bolivia

Posted In: Bolivia

Yun Kennelly says...

Coming to this movie with no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised.It deals with the plight of a Bolivian man who is forced to leave his country, and family, in search of work in Argentina, a society that is suffering from its own economic depression.Most of the movie takes place in the caf

Posted on March 13, 2011

Marty Delaporte says...

I was pleased to come across this dvd at the newly built Bronx Fordham branch of the NYPL. Having not been to Argentina since before the current economic crisis(1994), I was curious to view the Argentina in one of it's roughest eras in almost 2 decades. I've heard the label "Do the Right Thing" Buenos Aires style. That only partly describes it. This story DOES take place in a restaurant, similar to Sal's Famous Pizza. And it does focus on racism and prejudice in a society, much like ours, that values it's "Whiteness." Although much shorter than Spike Lee's best movie, it does bear similarities and both are very good reference points for modern ideas of racism and prejudice. The "actors" are all referred to by their real names, hence main character Freddy is actually Freddy Flores, Paraguayan/Argentine waitress Rosa is really, you guessed it, Rosa. Shot in black and white on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, it shows an Argentina just barely hanging on. Bolivian "cocinero" Freddy arrives in Buenos Aires and immediately gets hired as a cook, where the customers at the restaurant are for the most part out of work. The tensions build as the story goes, but it is evident from the start. The only "ethnic" looking characters are the cook (Bolivian) and waitress (Paraguayan.) Both of these countries share borders with Argentina but might as well be 1 million miles away. Being of Argentine descent I can agree that most Argentines turn their noses up at their mestizo neighbors. The use of traditional Bolivian music is fantastic and the merging of Bolivian music and imagery is superb. I would like to see more short movies like this and although the scope of Argentine cinema is large this is a great example of Argentine film making.

Posted on March 13, 2011

Teressa Klemens says...

I guess I have a bone to pick with this title, as I'm the author of at least 90% of the background information; I wrote the first four editions of this book, but failed to receive any author credit this time around. However, the newly inserted practical information seems to be solid, despite the fact that the new updater(s) lacked much time to put it together and Lonely Planet's new format dictated the deletion of lots of information that I'd consider both useful and entertaining - and in some cases essential. I'm sorry to see what has happened to 'my baby' (this was the first book I wrote for Lonely Planet), but that's through no fault of the current updater(s). In fact, I believe it's still the best available guide to Bolivia. Happy travels in that wonderfully enigmatic country!

Posted on March 14, 2011

Vina Dimmitt says...

I bought this film and was very disappointed don't make the same mistake I did.do not buy it a tremendous wasted of money

the theme is important but this ia a treatment demasiado corritente nada especially

Posted on March 16, 2011

Delia Mallicoat says...

This film won many awards at various festivals throughout the world so I thought I'd view it. Besides, I like movies from Argentina. The universal theme of immigration is the underlying driving force of this stark , gripping , at times revolting movie. A young man from Uruguay and young woman from Paraguay come to Argentina(not knowing each other) and end up working together in the local grill. Several other characters are brought into the story , by way of location, you know, hanging out at the restaurant. All have one thing in common, they are poor and barely able to make ends meet. One guy eats off his extended restaurant credit. The racism that exists is portrayed as anyone of color is treated second class and insulted outright. Freddy, the man from Uruguay, is berated by everyone , including his benevolent(he advances his pay for a phone call) boss, Don Enrique.Rosa, the foreignwaitress, isn't treated much better, has a passive aggressive personality, hangs her head and looks like a a beaten dog. The black and white imagery, dialogues that take place primarily in one room, makes for a dismal, depressing storyline. The occasional use of South American folk music breaks the tedium. You know the storyline is going down a dark alley of no return. The movie is short, coming in at slightly more than one hour but maybe that is all it takes to convey the message of the movie. If more people understood that immigration, coupled with poverty, is a story of survival than maybe Americans would be more tolerant. Check it out, the message is universal. The movie comes with subtitles for non-Spanish speaking viewers.

Posted on March 17, 2011

Terrell Donne says...

I amBolivian andwas disapointed that a Bolivian actor was not used, I can see the same descrimination against Argentinians in many countries, probably the least liked people in Latin America.

When a Bolivian peasant woman was pushed from a train and killed the"Grandmothers of the Missing" marched protesting and that showed that not all are the same.

It is a good film that can be a portrait of any imigrant in any foreign country.

Posted on March 17, 2011

Araceli Diegidio says...

I was expecting to be blown away given some of the press reviews I'd read.While this is definitely worth a watch, it does not live up to the hype.

Posted on March 20, 2011

Lynette Hortin says...

Director Israel Adrian Caetano was born in 1969, and has won several movie awards,but this is his directorial debut, 2001.Filmed in black and white the plot is little, the actors are excellent, and the social message is clear. It is the words that invoke so much anger, hate, jealousy, shame, by those struggling with economic and personal hardships.And inevitably, those words provoke the worst of man.The film is not gripping in action, but gripping in its message, words, reality, and pain all go through surviving.



Filmed in a Brazilian caf

Posted on March 21, 2011

Karla Kachelmeyer says...

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers. I found out more information about him on his website[...]. The book covers the author's experiences on the ground in Bolivia over the country's dramatic last five years. The book is eloquently written, filled with anecdotes from Mr. Powers' time there, and many other essential details one should know when visiting this lesser known place. This book provides a highly readable history of Bolivia and its current challenges. Additionally, it provides a detailed look into the relationship between a "gringo" do-gooder and the locals. It's a must read for anyone planning on visiting Bolivia any time soon.

Posted on March 21, 2011

Ila Stamas says...

William Powers' book gave me knowledge that only an individual with personal experience in his subject area can give.Going into the Bolivian Amazon, the author brought with him preconceived notions of how

the environment there should best be handled for the benefit of all. He left knowing that no program there would be a success unless the long-held beliefs, perceptions, and practices of indigenous peoples were incorporated into such a program.

I found Power's enlightenment both exciting and encouraging.His experience means that the rest of us can can be enlightened as well, if only we want to be.It also clarified why some 'green' projects are doomed from the beginning, i.e. when local issues are ignored or mishandled.

In addition, this book is very well written and a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

Posted on March 23, 2011