pldeaguinaga

After 50 years, "Escuela de Música" becomes, from a light comedy with very popular songs in Latin America, in a document and example of what a "familiar movie" was back then in Mexico: some mockery, some situations to make you smile and a happy end. But this is probably the closest example of what a " musical super production" was, following the line of American movies. For Latin American music lovers is interesting due it features songs from different countries: Mexico -of course- (La Cumbancha, Estrellita, Alma Jarocha and Guadalajara, among others; Argentina (A media luz), Venezuela (Alma llanera), Cuba (El manicero) and Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil) sang in Portuguese --something quite rare in those days in Mexico, singing in other language. Lots of folkloric stylized dresses for shows and good orchestrations, some times filmed in b&w and some others in color -don't ask me why. Not an artistic jewel but a document of -more or less- how Mexican people sang, dressed and behave in those years. Simpatica!

I just watched this movie on Televisión Española and was excited because it was about Manuel Puig, the talented author of "La Traición de Rita Hayworth" and "Boquitas Pintadas" that I enjoyed so much being a teenager but... I am so disappointed with this film! It doesn't capture the personality of Puig (as far as I know, he was terribly funny) and doesn't capture either the creative process he went tr ought, not to say his opinions about literature or movies, which he loved so much. This film focus mainly in his homosexual affairs -boooring actually- without any other context. The dialogs are simple, every day stuff. The characters almost never say anything interesting and at the end of the film, if you haven't read Puig or know nothing about him, you can think its only another silly movie about a frustrated gay guy with a sad and boring life. Its a pity we never know, in this film, other aspects of his life; well, we don't even really know why he choose Mexico to live in! If you want be entertained for a couple of hours you should read the books I mentioned and laugh all the way.

Since I saw La Corte del Faraón, by the same director, I wish I could say La Marcha Verde is at least as funny... but it isn't. This film is quite boring, very silly, even if the idea probably was good -the camp element always present. Of course, as always, there are some funny moments and a couple of old songs very popular in the 50's like "El Beso", and even if the acting is good, there is not enough interesting action or dialogs or story. I mean, if the funniest line is: "¿Have you gone to bed with him? ¡Do'not be vulgar!.... I have'not yet, but I will". Now, you can have an idea of this film. I guess is like when you go to some restaurant and the menu list an apparently attractive dish, with nice ingredients but the result its very disappointing. So, go for La Corte del Faraón instead!