Violeta Visited Paradise (Violeta se fue a los cielos)

A BF release (in Chile) of the Minera Escondida presentation of the Wood Producciones, Maiz Producciones, Bossa Nova Films production in colaboration with BG TV. (Worldwide sales: Wood Producciones, Santiago.) Executive producers, Patricio Pereira , Pablo Rovito, Fernando Sokolowicz, Denise Gomes, Paula Cosenza, Billy Garlick. Directed by Andres Wood. Script, Eliseo Altunaga, Rodrigo Bazaes, Guillermo Calderon, Wood, in line with the book by Angel Parra.With: Francisca Gavilan, Thomas Durand, Christian Quevedo, Patricio Ossa, Luis Machin, Stephania Barbagelata, Roberto Faras, Gabriela Aguilera. (The spanish language, French dialogue)The intense, amazing existence from the Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra is investigated with sensitivity and exquisite lightness of touch in Andres Wood's "Violeta Visited Paradise." Having a searching central perf from Francisca Gavilan, this superbly lensed portrait moves stylishly backwards and forwards over time to limn the existence of the lady who constantly battled to locate her place. Chile's Oscar submission reps a formidable addition to Wood's already solid oeuvre, as well as its particularly Chilean subject is not likely to avoid it from following Wood's "Machuca" into offshore arthouses. Even though some poetic license is inevitably taken, the pic is carefully in line with the occasions of Parra's own existence, structured around a TV interview the singer gave in 1962. Elevated in poverty in southern Chile because the daughter of the alcoholic schoolteacher named Nicanor (Christian Quevedo), Parra would be a spirited child immediately. Being an adult, she was deeply romantic and deeply political, writing tunes that may be achingly lyrical or stridently defend the oppressed. Key occasions proven include Parra's travels with the Andes mountain tops giving shows like a duet together with her sister Hilda her trip to a classic guy within the countryside from whom she would like to understand tunes, but who will not sing following a dying of his grandchild her visit to the Intl. Youth Festival in Belgium, that she returns to locate her year-old daughter has died of pneumonia her amount of time in Paris, where she exhibits her work on the Louvre her tempestuous, on-off relationship with anthropologist Gilbert Favre (Thomas Durand) and her installment of the arts center inside a remote tent in the Andes. These occasions are proven significantly from sequence, though Andrea Chignoli's precision editing guarantees that moments set years apart are made lighting instead of confusing by their juxtaposition. Some welcome comic relief comes throughout the 1962 interview, by which Parra deals with patience using the snide questions of the right-wing Argentinean interviewer (Luis Machin). Gavilan provides a profoundly committed, rangy perf that handles to become intense, gutsy and nuanced all at one time, and bespeaks a comprehension of the significance of getting Parra right with regard to Chilean auds. The script enables for any hpv warts-and-all portrait that's not even close to simple hagiography. Parra's multiple contradictions are there: She's headstrong but insecure, interpersonal but lonely, adventurous but home-loving, and most importantly, never quite capable of being a great mother to her children. (Pic is dependant on the memoirs of one of these, Angel.) Typically of Wood's films, production values are topnotch. Using locations is particularly strong, and lenser Miguel Joan Littin, Wood's longtime collaborator, renders the peculiar light and textures of the Andean mountain village as capably because he does individuals from the banks from the Seine by evening. Aesthetically, the pic isn't dull and sometimes demonstrates a daring feeling of framework, just like a lovemaking scene shot with the gaps between floormats. Pic features about 20 mostly guitar-based tunes that repetition a great choice of Parra's work, although her most widely used tune, "Gracias a la vida," is missing. The highlight is really a searing, soul-baring performance of "El gavilan" (The Sparrowhawk), featuring the road which the pic may have been built: "I've nowhere to become.InchDigital camera (color/ B&W), Miguel Joan Littin editor, Andrea Chignoli music, Violeta Parra art director, Rodrigo Bazaes seem (Dolby Digital SR), Miguel Hormazabal. Examined on DVD, Madrid, March. 29, 2011. Running time: 110 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com