ROMANTICO
Behind the music of a mariachi, a world of life, struggle and courage
PopcornReel.com Film Review: "Romantico"
By Omar P.L. Moore/January 19, 2007
Carmelo
Muniz Sanchez (left) with director Mark Becker. (Photo: Kino)
Mark Becker's "Romantico", a documentary that opens today
in San Francisco, Berkeley, Seattle and Denver, is not as depressing as some of
the preliminary reviews and quotes about it would have you believe. For
sure, it is a journey of ups and downs, as Carmelo Muniz Sanchez, a late
fifties-something mariachi from Mexico, is scraping by for an existence in San
Francisco playing in restaurants sparsely populated with amorous couples, as
they wait for their food to arrive. With Arturo, his mariachi partner,
they make a living that is better than what it would be in Mexico.
Something however, is missing -- family. Carmelo longs to be with his wife
and two daughters and he misses them. He has big dreams and aspirations of
moving the girls to San Francisco.
There is the small issue of illegal border-crossing, which turns out to be the
largest obstacle governing all the challenges that Carmelo faces.
Mexico and San Francisco frame the dilemmas of Carmelo's life, but more
importantly in "Romantico", the dreams, challenges and that thing called life
that a father has to grapple with as he works to provide for his family.
Carmelo doesn't live in two worlds, he lives in many, and Mr. Becker's camera
shows glimpses of them all. "Romantico" is filled with irony, particularly
in moments where Carmelo-as-mariachi sings about the longings of the heart to an
appreciative audience, but he of course is singing about his own joys, sorrows
and hopes.
There is a selflessness about the way "Romantico" is shot (over a multi-year
period) that makes it both intimate and as judgment-free as it can be. Mr.
Sanchez is a remarkably open and accessible subject for Becker's camera, and his
comfort in front of camera during the more uncomfortable of times and
circumstances is something to behold. Carmelo's family is both stoic and
fun-loving, with his daughters very quiet. Stardom or exposure are not
their desire. Having their father with them is.
"Romantico" is a universal story -- and a story that many who
listen to the joyous and romantic sounds of the mariachi may not have even
stopped to care or think existed. These stories need to be told on film,
and thankfully Mark Becker had the presence of mind to do so, because "Romantico"
is thoroughly worth the investment of each of its 82 minutes.
"Romantico" opens today in San Francisco and in surrounding areas in the Bay
Area in Northern California, as well as Seattle and Denver. Next Friday it
opens in Chicago. It is now playing in several other American cities.
The film is one hour and 22 minutes in length, and is unrated.
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