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I am thrilled with Maria Full of Grace

I am thrilled with Maria Full of Grace, last night I watched this great movie. I say great for many reasons. Incidentally, I am not comparing this movie to any of numerous classic and current grandiose cinema productions.
As many of you are aware all the movies about Colombia do not reflect anything about Colombia. The scenes that are supposed be in Colombia are not about Colombia and even more uncomfortable is the fact that the accent from the Spanish cast is not even Colombian, to compound this cinematography shortcoming, Colombian music were not present in many of these film productions.
Just to give you an idea how I felt for 30 years or so, that’s about how much I have been watching movies about a fake Colombia. For those who are not Colombians, the feeling would be the same if, for example you were a British citizen and for many years you have been watching movies about your country England where the culture has been portrayed with scenes of a different country and the actors chatted with a popular German accent actor who are supposed to be English. Hollywood has made over 20 movies about Colombia and many of these productions have nothing to say about Colombian culture but only to emphasize the sinister. Among the list of movies that lack everything about Colombia are romancing the stone, toy soldiers, mrs. smith, collateral damage and the list goes on, I just cannot remember all to list them here at this time.

Last night I was very pleased to see the exemplary production of Jeremy Kipp Walker and Paul Mezey, the director and writer Joshua Marston, the great job of Lyn Fainchtein, music supervisor, Jacobo Lieberman and Leonardo Heiblum and the excellent job done by the rest of the production crew.

In Maria Full of Grace, the first songs are typical Colombian music, as the ones I have been posting here. Cumbia music starts right at the beginning, the music begins its debut at the party where Maria is dancing with her friend, this the same place where Maria met the guy who was going change her life. When I heard one of Fruko’s songs, I jumped and I said I remember that one! The shot is the one when Maria and Franklin are cruising on the motorcycle towards Bogotá.
Catalina Sandino Moreno I loved her. She was a superb actress and very natural one. She portrayed her tough character very well and she appeared to be in very much control of her acting. I mean it was a real good job for the first time!

I recommend to those who are not from Colombia and also Colombian wanna be alike from bhp to see this movie if you want to get a bit closer to Colombia and you’ll hear real Colombian accents, in fact you will hear two different accents in this stunning movie, you’ll hear accent from those who live in Bogotá or “rolo” accent, and “paisa” accent. Even “lulu” fruit made an appearance in this movie. Don’t worry you’ll probably hear “costeño” accent in the upcoming film.

Here are some familiar expressions that I noted: “Maria no me saques la piedra” “Gente tan bacana” “Entonces que!” “Usted me esta jodiendo” “Donde estan las ---- pepas! haber en bombas! “Ustedes no valen chimba!”and the funny one, for those who are from NJ, the paisa mafioso, Javier, said “Nueva Jersey un pueblito cerca de Nueva York”

But the good news does not end here because another movie about Colombia is being filmed in Cartagena today. This movie however will not have the usual mediocre portrayal of Colombia as the handful of movies from the past.
“Love in the Time of Cholera” a Gabriel García Márquez’s work will be released this year. “The $50 million film, the first major foreign production shot in the scenic, walled city in decades, will be released around Christmas”
I wish the best of luck to the crew, to British director Mike Newell and Scott Steindorff, independent producer.

By Monpirri on Jan 14, 2007, 07:13 in Friendly Talkzone.

podborski says on Jan 14, 2007, 08:37:

make sure you listen to the director's comments if you have the DVD. I found that very interesting too.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 14, 2007, 09:42:

Yep, that's an incredible movie. La vendedora de Rosas is very good too :)

Poor but snappy

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Monpirri says on Jan 14, 2007, 10:11:

I will follow all three advices Podborki we meet again. I just came back from Blockbuster video from returning the DVD and I did not hear the director's comments, I shall have read this thread before I went to the video store. Why did the director say if you remember?

Mario, I do not think I have seen the Deer Hunter, wait is that the one about a Russian agent or the movie is about something that happened in Seberia?

Peter, I think I am going back to Blockbuster because I do not think I have seen "La Vendedora de Rosas"

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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aztec says on Jan 14, 2007, 10:17:

monpirri1, the Deer Hunter... ...is brutal and depressing. Involves group of guys who's lives are never the same after a "tour" through Viet Nam. It also ranks as one of the better movies.

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Monpirri says on Jan 14, 2007, 10:27:

So the Deer Hunter does not have anything to do with Colombia? Thanks Aztec.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jan 14, 2007, 10:29:

sorry Monpirry but I found la Vendedora de Rosas and Maria Full of Grace boring,I have seen better Colombian films.

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Monpirri says on Jan 14, 2007, 10:53:

Kat1 You are not looking at it from the cultural point of view. I am not saying that the story line, which it is all about the same issue the “drugs” That is not my point.
If you read the story above carefully and if you have seen the 50 so movies released by Hollywood, Colombians are not existing culture, there is no Colombian accent, no Colombian music, no popular Colombian sayings and even worst you do not see in any of these films about Colombia, a Colombian dish being prepared during the filming, lol. As the ones you seen in the Italian, Chinese movies.
I hope you bring that topic to the attention of future filmmakers about Colombia so we also get a head start in arepa de huevo, sancocho de gallina, caribañola, mojarra frita, empanadas vallunas, chibcha, carne asada a llanera.... You help me out.

My point is for the first time Colombians have their own identity in regard to accent, music, verbal expressions and hopefully in the future, gastronomy will play a major role.
Come on let’s give Colombians some credit for all the good things they have made.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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podborski says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:20:

after I watched Maria the first time I was so enthralled that I started to watch the added features, the main (only?) one being watching it again with the directors comments off. Unfortunately I only got to watch a small part of it this way but plan to rent it again to see it in full.

The parts I recall:
-very little of the movie was shot in Colombia, due to insurance issues, or maybe just fear on the part of the financial backers?

-one part shot in Colombia was the making of the pellets, and the director was wondering aloud how on earth he would ever find anyone to help him make a realistic machine and make the scene believable. Of course one of the cameramen (colombian) spoke up. ' No problem, I know someone...' and within 15 minutes they not only had the actual equiptment used to make pellets, but a guy with a lot of experience doing so. The guy wanted to be in the movie and so he is shown making the pellets, oblivious to threat of his face being seen by authorities.
-most of the actors were totally inexperienced except the guy on the motorbike
-they had to paint the whole town (in ecuador I think?) white to resemble a colombian town. Normally all the houses there are bright colours. I forget the exact story, but think maybe it was that after a huge struggle to be able to do this, and promising to paint it all back in original colours, most of the townsfolk opted to keep the white houses.

Lots of other background on the rose growing industry, the other actors, experiences filming, etc. Worth renting it again I think.

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podborski says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:24:

oops I meant to say director's comments 'on'

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Monpirri says on Jan 14, 2007, 11:54:

Maria Full of Grace Thanks for sharing the info about Maria Full of Grace. I will also go back and get it.
Yes, I remember seen at the end of the DVD in the thank you section, thanks to 'Ecuadorian team' or some thing of that effect.
We had the same problems when we went to South America, Colombia was excluded from the IT tour because security or liability reasons bologna.

The life spam of a taste bud is ten days

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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 14, 2007, 12:06:

The first words out of my mother's mouth as she watched the town scenery in the opening were "That is not a Colombian town".

That said, she still thought that the story was interesting, even tho it highlighted one of the things that the world already knows of Colombia. Why not a film about something else?

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goin_south says on Jan 14, 2007, 12:12:

I can't even get a copy at Blockbuster; guess I'll have to buy one the next time I pass through the Miami Airport.
Es el año, 2007: "El Ano de Los Santos!"

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 14, 2007, 15:22:

My Colombian wife (and me) agree that the depiction of Colombia is very very good in Maria full of grace, even though the director isn't Colombian. It's really spot-on.

Poor but snappy

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elchantajista says on Jan 14, 2007, 15:55:

yo acabo de comprar el DVD maria full of grace ;great movie really liked it saw it first on HBO
the young lady who played maria you gotta love her as she face so much aversity, I bet thier are many young ladies with her courage anda de parranda en Bogota
"Vicente"

anda de parranda al Juanchito "Vicente"

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ksmmcg says on Jan 14, 2007, 20:13:

la sierra i agree that maria full of grace is a wonderful movie despite its cultural shortcomings but i would also HIGHLY recommend La Sierra - its a documentary filmed in colombia following three people involved in the ongoing civil war- in one neighborhood in particular - its absolutely amazing and all of you should see it - although i doubt it can be found at blockbuster

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elchantajista says on Jan 14, 2007, 21:19:

find it Look for it on the internet that's where i found Mary full of grace,thanks ksmmcg i'm gonna seach for it and buy it

anda de parranda en Bogota
"Vicente"

anda de parranda al Juanchito "Vicente"

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goin_south says on Jan 15, 2007, 00:19:

and, then I'm gonna borrow your copy and, in return, I'll let you watch the STM HighLights Film I got tonight at the banquet. Awesome, dude! (You do KNOW, that STM had the Reckin Rams beat by 14 with about 6 minutes to go, and should have whipped the State Champs' Arse.) lol

Es el año, 2007: "El Año de Los Santos!"

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

0 funny, 0 helpful.