La Quinceañera Reviews

Wanted to share a review the film got in a library Journal.

La Quinceañera ***1/2
(2007) 41 min. In Spanish w/English subtitles. DVD: individuals: $24.50, institutions: $79.95 (w/PPR). Adam Taub (web: www.laquinceaneradocumentary.com).
In 2003, filmmaker Adam Taub traveled to the Xico colony in Mexico to record the Quince Años—or 15th birthday celebration—of Ana Maria, the youngest of five daughters (including twins) in a struggling single-parent household. Combining family interviews, scenes of daily activities and preparations, and archival clips from previous parties, La Quinceañera presents an overview of this longstanding tradition from an entirely personal perspective. From the Saturday lessons Ana Maria must attend (during which an instructor outlines adult responsibilities and explains the differences between physical and emotional love) to the history of la familia (mother Lili has been sick, and her absent husband is shunned by the clan due to nonsupport, making oldest son Oscar the patriarch), the film covers the big day from all sides: practicing with footmen for the party waltz; first eyebrow pluckings and pierced ears; the makeup, hair, and dress that transform Ana Maria into a “grown” woman; and the church mass (with a surprise guest) and revelry after. A heartwarming portrait (a scene in which Oscar and the older women serenade Ana Maria on the morning of her quinceañera beautifully captures the family’s devotion), this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Williams-Wood)

New Documentary has video teaser

There is a new video teaser for the documentary "El Duque" up on La Quinceañeras website www.laquinceaneradocumentary.com unders Trailers. "El Duque" is the story of Joan Soriano, a Bachata Musician from the Dominican Republic, as he struggles to reach his goal of a hit CD and success as a musician. It is also the story of his large extended family living in the rural countryside of Monte Plata as they dream along with him, hoping that his success will improve their economic situation and quality of life. As a child, Joan's hands were protected by his father from the dangers of agricultural work after it was discovered that he had a talent for the guitar. Immediately upon this discovery, Joan, along with his siblings and other neighborhood kids formed a musical group and began performing for neighbors. Improvising with found object instruments such as homemade guitars, tin can maracas, glass bottles bass, and plastic bucket tamboras, they entertained others with merengues and bachatas that are native to the their country the Dominican Republic.

Joan is now 35 and lives with his girlfriend and son 20 minutes from Monte Plata in the barrio of Villa Mella that abuts Santo Domingo. Villa Mella has a strong Congolese influence and Joan's bachata, merengue, and salsa, draws heavily upon the Afro-Dominican tradition that flourishes in this barrio. Joan has been featured on the "Rough Guide to the Bachata" and on the documentary "Santo Domingo Blues" as well as performed and recorded with big name bachata musicians such as Joe Veras and Zacarias Ferreira. However, at 35 he has not had his own hit and he feels his time running out. At times, he battles with desperation and depression but continues forward with his music and dream. Within the last few years, a music producer named Benjamin de Menil from IASO Records has begun recording a CD of Joan's music. If Joan is going to make it the time is now.

In "El Duque" the rythms of life are played out and the story of a family is written. Saturated with music, Dominican culture, intimate portraits, and the dreams of Joan and his family, "El Duque" provides an emotionally an intellectually satisfying story to those hungry for documentary content.

Lyric Cinema Cafe shows local films

I screened "La Quinceañera" on Jan. 22nd at the Lyric Cinema Cafe in Fort Collins along with fellow Boulder filmmakers and friends John Tweedy and Beret Strong who showed their film "Saya: Dance and Survival in an Afro-Bolivian."

The Lyric Cinema is a great little independent theater that screens great films in Fort Collins in a fun and intimate atmosphere. Run by Ben and Josh, Patrons can buy food, drink, beer, and wine at the venue and the theaters themselves are equipted with theater style seating as well as comfy couches. One of the great things the theater offers is Screenings with local filmmakers on a monthly basis. The relationship between local theaters and filmmakers is an important part in build a film community in a region. This is a great situation for the filmmaker to screen work in fun setting. the film looked and sounded great and they allowed us to sell our DVDs as well. We were in the small theater which held about 45 people and had about 35 come to the screening. It was a diverse mix of people, independent film buffs, anthropologists from CSU and UNC, friends, family, Folks from Bolivia and Mexico and many others. After the film we had a short Q&A and then were able to talk one on one with many of the guests which is a real highlight.


For more info on La Quinceañera visit- www.laquinceaneradocumentary.com
For more info on Saya visit- http://www.landlockedfilms.com/index.htm

Santa Fe Film Festival

I spent 5 days at the Santa Fe Film Festival last week and had a great time. La Quinceañera screened twice at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture and was partnered with the film "Lost and Found in Mexico. The theater held around 100 people and it was sold out both shows. One of the highlights of the festival for me was meeting filmmakers and staff from the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. I met some wonderful people and saw some very good films because of that program. The All Roads Film Project helps indigenous filmmakers tell their stories.

"All Roads is a National Geographic initiative created to provide an international platform for indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture artists to share their cultures, stories, and perspectives through the power of film and photography. All Roads is an exciting, groundbreaking film festival, photography program, and film grant program rolled into one."

A few of the films that I saw that I recommend are-

"Daf" A documentary set in Kurdistan about a family that makes a type of Iranian Tamporine called the Daf.
"Enemies of Happiness" Documentary about a women in Afghanistan running for parliment.
"Horse you See" Film by Mellisa Henry about a Navajo horse that talks and sings
"The Bands Visit" Israeli film that follows an Eygptian Orchaestras visit to Israel

Hope you have a chance to check these films out!

Film Fest News

I recently found out that La Quinceañera is a finalist in the Angleus Student Film Festival and will be screened in LA in late october as part of the festival. 5 other documentarys will also be screened as part of the festival, 3 of them coming from grad students from the Stanford documentary program and the others from NYU and City College of New York. The following is taken from the Angelus website and describes what kind of films they look for.

"The Angelus Student Film Festival cultivates and honors future filmmakers as they explore and create works that respect the dignity of the human person. Angelus Award winning films reflect values such as REDEMPTION, SPIRTUALITY, DIGNITY, TOLERANCE, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, HOPE and TRIUMPH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT."

http://www.angelus.org/about-introduction.html

www.laquinceaneradocumentary.com

Leaving for the Dominican Republic

Just an update. I will be leaving the country for a month to travel to the Dominican Republic on August 7th. There I will begin work and research on a new documentary that will be a personal portrait of a bachata musician. I will also shoot a bachata dance instruction video while there. After that I will return to attend a couple of film festivals with "La Quinceañera."