Violeta Parra

Absolutely worth viewing for a fresh look at what cinema can be.

I was very impressed; This film documents the life (and death) of Violeta Parra while using cinematographic techniques that are, in my opinion, fresh and outstanding.

Also very noteworthy is the authenticity of the conditions in Chile during Violetas' time and the understanding shown of the people in the country are very well done.

I thoroughly recommend it ... take a handkerchief with you and be prepared to be lifted into Violetas' world.

Gracias Andres, Gracias woodproducciones !!

That's the way for me to describe what I felt while watching this movie, an artist I admired since I was a kid. even though all I knew was,her talent and that she had a tormented soul, and most of all, of one epic song.

This movie is intense if you have an idea of who Violeta Parra was, someone who created, and left a legacy for many other great artists with many of her songs, particularly with "Gracias a la vida" "Thanks to life" a song that has been interpreted by Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, Elis Regina, Alberto Cortez, Placido Domingo, even Michael Bubble, among many, many, others. On different languages, on different cultures an ode to life, and ironically her creator choose a dark way to go.

This film is a gripping narration and highlights of the life of Violeta Parra as composer, singer, painter, daughter, mother and lover. And regardless that at moments the music and interpretation gets a poignant feeling,its a must watch if you are one of those, like me, who pretends to "know it all" but above all, to certainly broad your horizons and open your mind, and appreciate what sometimes is so unappreciated.

Besides the movie tell us a summary of Violeta Parra's Life, it's a very accurate image how the life was in that time in South America (1910-1960); as the country people survived in those days. Violeta Parra was a member of the prolific Parra family. Among her brothers were the notable modern poet, Nicanor Parra and fellow folklorist Roberto Parra. Her children, Ángel and Isabel Parra, are also important figures in the "Nueva Canción Chilena".

Violeta Parra's music is gorgeous,and it tried to make the world better. Songs like "Gracias a La Vida" or "Volver a los diecisiete" are celebrations of life. At the same time showed the contradictory nature of the human condition. Her Music was popularized throughout Latin America by Mercedes Sosa, in Brazil by Elis Regina and later in the US by Joan Baez.

The new film by Andrew Wood ("Stories of football," Machuca ") came several weeks ago the national billboard, much discussed by critics and expected by the general public. And someone who does not know who Violeta Parra, regardless you like it or not, it is increasingly difficult to find in our country.

Still, knowing who you are or have heard it is not enough at all to say that we know the inside and out. And this is what "Violet went to heaven" proposes. Based on the book written by his son Angel Parra shows us a close look, and many times deep metaphorical Chilean folklorist.

With silent flashbacks, a journey between the real and the dreamer, an idiosyncrasy so characteristic of a person raised in the countryside and a life forged and hardened with hardship and suffering, "Violet went to heaven" is a complete x-ray naked the artist who provides us with the greatest simplicity himself, and incidentally, of his work.

The filmmaker manages to mix with a very positive linear history with the desires and obsessions of the protagonist, armed with a smart script from the memory and the present development of the film.

Francisca Gavilan, who stars in the film is delivered to the paper, with a sublime embodiment, and a perfect vocal and instrumental performance when required, something unfortunately scarce among Chilean companies. It shows the work required and the technical goal more than achieved.

The rest of the cast of "Violet went to heaven" offers good performances, but because of the limited role they have, fail to shine as a Hawk.

There is a game camera in the foreground, with the simple and detailed human face, and so the image goes beyond the feeling that emerges in each scene with an ease that is appreciated.

In short, "Violet went to heaven" allows the viewer a simple exercise: to see a common history, stress, ups and downs of passion and destruction, and a remarkable inspiration of an artist. How it travels between the cliff and the idealization sometimes at the same time. And all with a visual poetry that accompanies the beat of the compositions of Parra we hear throughout the film.

This film based on the life of the great Chilean singer, composer, folklorist and traditional music compiler Violeta Parra is not bad, but the script followed the pedestrian structure of formulaic biopics, when the subject was a very complex artist, with a strong personality. It more or less follows the dialectic of "inspiring incident->song", "inspiring incident->song" and so on... Francisca Gavilán is very good, but Andrés Wood did much better with less compromised projects as the remarkable «Machuca.» Unfortunately, he was dealing with a major figure of world culture, and the result was rather average.