La Gunguna

One of the best film works I've been able to see in the Dominican Republic, Colore, Historia, Luces, and keeping you connected to the movie at every moment is what I liked most about this movie. This film took the producers of the same several years of realization, many people do not know but as I have heard from sources over 7 years giving shape to this project which for me has been shocking.

This little jewel of a movie from an obscure director in an obscure film market, the Dominican Republic, has been compared to Pulp Fiction, mainly for the non-chronological order of the various vignettes and the astonishing violence and rawness of it. But a Pulp Fiction seeped in Caribbean parlance and customs. Viewing it is enough to form an idea of life in the slums of Santo Domingo. Interesting perspectives of race and prejudice, against blacks, Chinese, and even Dominicans by Puerto Ricans, enrich the sordid tale. And the premise, that a small .22 pistol once owned by Italian dictator Mussolini, would wind up in the Dominican Republic, becomes increasingly believable as the story unfolds. I have watched it over and over and seen new nuances in it every time. It is really more like Jackie Brown than Pulp Fiction. Admittedly it would lose a great deal in translation, but if you speak fluent Spanish, don't miss this movie.

Even with its problems, I love this movie. If you are fluent in Spanish (especially if you are Dominican) I would highly recommend it (watching with sub-titles you will lose a lot of the humor).

Although people compare it to Pulp Fiction (and I love Pulp Fiction), this movie is in a different beast. There is so much more here than just a violent romp across two island. It is funny and yet their is tragedies at every corner. There is a view into Dominican life (although exaggerated for comedic effect) that most people that visit do not see.

Of course it is an interesting feature from the Dominican Republic but keep in mind that topic has already been told before. Remember Anthnony Mann's WINCHESTER 73 or John Badham's THE GUN, or western TV show DEAD MAN'S GUN...Same scheme. So that said, this little film remains to be watched and consider it as an adequate time waster. Not more.