[The Pan African Film and Arts Festival is for Black-themed movies what the Panama and Suez Canals are for international shipping: A vital gateway for the transshipment of, in PAFF’s case, film culture. ]
Chico & Rita
Review by Ed Rampell
We’re used to thinking of animation as being mere child’s play a la Disney, but the largely Cuba-set Chico & Rita – currently nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar – is strictly for grown-ups as it sensuously and explicitly depicts the love affair between two musicians. (Think Mickey and Minnie getting it on.)
Co-directed/co-written by Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba (director of 1992’s Belle Epoque starring Penelope Cruz), Chico’s animation is stellar, vividly bringing to life the Havana, Manhattan, Paris and Las Vegas of the 1940s/1950s. The music, too, makes this film worth seeing.
However, the script leaves much to be desired. The Havana of bygone days looks glamorous, especially in comparison to today’s Cuban capital, which looks drab and shabby. Well, half a century of embargo may or may not do that to you, but the cartoon’s Havana of yesterday is largely devoid of that grinding poverty that inspired, oh you know, that little thing we call “revolution.” It wasn’t all mambo and showgirls under Batista, don’tchaknow?
The love story between a pianist and singer is also remarkably stupid and senseless, full of celluloid stereotypes and completely absent of the sense of the ongoing bond a romantic relationship can generate between two people. The movie’s notion of love is, well, cartoonish; there’s a big difference between true, lasting love and obsession, don’tchaknow? But again, having said this, if you can overlook these points Chico & Rita is a fiesta for the eyes and ears, with some of the most compelling cartoon, animated erotic imagery since R. Crumb and Ralph Bakshi’s 1972 Fritz the Cat.
The 20th ANNUAL PAN AFRICAN FILM AND ARTS FESTIVAL takes place Thursday, February 9 — February 20, 2012 at Rave Cinemas, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza15, 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008. For more info: (310)337-4737; www.PAFF.org.
See Also:
 Men In Black III Global Dates By Country |
 Blue Pill Or Red Pilll Your Choice |
 Art House Spotlight: Drexel Theatre Columbus, OH |
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