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Flamenco

1997, Movie, NR, 115 mins

Flamenco: Review

If you don't know anything about flamenco, this movie's encyclopedic coverage of Spain's national dance may try your patience. There's singing, dancing, clapping, drumming and lots of guitar playing, but there's no story, no dialogue, almost no narration... oh, and no subtitles: It's more a concert film than a documentary. But if you do know something about flamenco, you're bound to see an incredible performance by at least one person you've heard of, and you'll want to see more of the others. Spanish director Carlos Saura (who's already made three films celebrating flamenco -- BLOOD WEDDING, CARMEN, EL AMOR BRUJO) clearly wants his film to convey the sense of a dance tradition that's both resilient and astonishingly diverse: The faces of the performers (of every imaginable hue) attest to the ethnic and cultural range of the flamenco world. Because of its thoroughness the result is a little long, and even the dramatic and highly orchestrated lighting scheme can't add much shape to its "checklist" structure. But the performances are simply astounding: Even a novice will feel the sheer virtuosity and passion. leave a comment