Festival Films A-Z

Don Angel Tavira, Dagoberto Gama, Gerardo Taracena, Fermín Martínez

Cámara Carnal Films, S.A. de C.V.
Textitlán 40 A-303, Sta. Úrsula Coapa,
Coyoacán, 04650
Mexiko
Tel.: +52 55 5617 0263
Fax: +52 55 8559 1393
E-Mail: camaracarnalproduce@cinemexicano.com
Internet: www.camaracarnalfilms.com

Martìn Boege Parè

Francisco Vargas Quevedo, Ricardo Garfias

Memento Films International
40 rue de Paradis
75010 Paris
Frankreich
Tel.: +33 1 48 00 09 48
Fax: +33 1 47 70 21 22
E-Mail: sales@memento-films.com
Internet: www.memento-films.com

Synopsis

Don Plutarco, his son Genaro and his grandson Lucio live a double life: musicians and humble farmers, they also support the campesina peasant guerilla movement´s armed efforts against the oppressive goverment. When the military seizes the village, the rebels flee to the sierra hills, forced to leave behind their supply of ammunition. While the guerillas organize a counter-attack, old Plutarco executes his own plan. He plays up his appearance as a harmless violin player, and makes it back into the occupied vilage to recuperate the ammunition hidden in his cornfield. Playing the violin, he charms the army captain, who orders Plutarco to come back daily. Plutarco has music, but needs ammunition. The captain wants to stifle the rebellion, but he loves music. Arms and music play cat-and-mouse and result in painful betrayal.

"I've always wanted to write a screenplay about the ignored reality in Mexico, similar to what Luis Bunuel did with Los Olvidados in the 1950s", director Francisco Vargas said.

In preparation for his film, Vargas inquired into various Latin American conflicts: in the course of his research, he came across the violinist Carlos Prieto and the amazing experiences he made thanks to his instrument. Just like Plutarco, he went into the enemy camps every day and played the violin. For Vargas, Prieto's story was an inspiration to reflect on the often dangerous relation between music and war.
Vargas tells the story of the guerrilla uprising in Mexico in the 1970s in poetic black and white images. The story can be seen as emblematic for many other conflicts in Latin America, which concern oppressed Indios, poor farmhands and dispelled peasants. These have not been overcome: conflicts such as the one in Chiapas reach well into today's present and have gained notoriety world-wide.
The Violin is Vargas' first film. Its leading actor, Ángel Tavira, was honoured with Un Certain Regard in Cannes 2007. At perspektive, the film is part of the official competition.

Biography

Hay momentos (1998), Conejo (1999), Tierra caliente... Se mueren los que la mueven (2004), The Violin (2005, Kurzfilm), The Violin (2006, Spielfilm)

Filmography

Hay momentos (1998), Conejo (1999), Tierra caliente... Se mueren los que la mueven (2004), The Violin (2005, Kurzfilm), The Violin (2006, Spielfilm)

Dates

25	03.10.2007	19:45	Filmhaus
66	07.10.2007	11:00	Filmhaus