Danzón

Like the title says, The Dance ! According to wikipedia: "Danzón is the official musical genre and dance of Cuba. It is also an active musical form in Mexico, and is much loved in Puerto Rico as well. Written in 2/4 time, the danzón is a slow, formal partner dance." In the story, Maria Rojo is Julia, who likes to dance. when she's not dancing, she's working or looking after her daughter in Mexico City. but then Julia's dance partner goes missing. and everyone has their own idea of what might have happened to him. so Julia goes off to VeraCruz to look for him! a fun scene where Julia reads all the ships names in various languages as she walks along the piers. she makes some great new friends, and has a grand adventure. and we get to see some great scenery of VeraCruz. directed by Maria Novaro. Written by Beatriz Novaro. Maria born in 1951. Beatriz born in 1953... sisters? it's fun.

DANZON (dir.María Novaro) Julia is a long distance telephone operator in Mexico City who has a passion for the official dance of Cuba, The Danzon. When her partner disappears, she travels to Veracruz to try and discover what happened to him. The film becomes a tender and affectionate journey of self-discovery which leads to a reaffirmation of her sexuality. The various colorful and quirky characters that she meets change her life in subtle, yet fundamental ways. This is not exactly a 'Chick Flic', but Maria Novaro has crafted a film in which femininity is celebrated and revered in an honest and creative manner. A color saturated 35mm print makes this a delight to see-the absolute antithesis of the stark and clinical look of digital photography. Winner of numerous awards.

What would a film for women look like? Well, one possibility is Maria Novaro's wonderful reversal of all of the expectations of male-oriented films. Playing with a number of genres and turning them on their heads, Novaro gives us the story of Julia, an ordinary late thirty-something woman, who, used to playing a traditionally passive, "feminine" role, takes on the active role of searching for her missing danzon partner in a journey that takes her from gloomy Mexico City to sun-drenched Veracruz. In the process she changes from object of the male gaze to bearer of the gaze. The film boasts a super performance from Maria Rojo as Julia and fine supporting performances by Carmen Salinas, Tito Vasconcelos, and Victor Carpenteiro. It is saturated with fantastic Mexican music, especially songs written by Veracruz' native son, Agustin Lara. And then there is the dancing. The danzon, where a single glance may give the game away, becomes a perfect metaphor for Julia's journey of self-discovery.

Julia is a middle aged phone operator in Mexico City who divides her time between her job, her daughter and the "Danzon": an elegant, romantic Cuban dance popular in Caribbean Latin America.

Julia wants to taste one great romance in her life before she feels she will have lost what's left of her beauty. Like a ritual, each Wednesday Julia dances the Danzon with the dashing, mysterious and still handsome Carmelo in the old "Salon Colonia". They've danced for years but barely know each other.

One night Carmelo disappears without a trace. Suddenly bereft, Julia abandons well-regulated obligations and responsibilities and sets off on a long distance odyssey, searching for her missing cavalier. These comic, touching and ultimately triumphant adventures lead Julia to a deeper comprehension of the meaning of life and true happiness.

The main character goes on a long journey to find Carmelo, her danzon partner, after he fails to show up for their weekly dancing date. She believes that dancing is the only bright spot in her life. On her journey, she makes new friends and has an affair with a younger man. She returns to find Carmelo at home, and realizes that she doesn't need him the way she thought she did. Julia's life has an excitement even without this man.

It was a good film. I watched a subtitled version which was helpful but as always you lose alittle of the content that way.