juanpimartinez

Chocó is the first movie of Jhonny Hendrix Hinestroza, a young afroamerican borned in Chocó, a low-income state in the pacific coast of Colombia.

Chocó is also the name of the main female character, a young woman who is encharged of raising alone her children. She works in a gold mine while her husband gets drunk and spends their earnings.

Chocó shows well the culture of this region, where women seem to be considered less than men and suffer their abuse constantly. What is worst is that this society is comfortable with that situation. Nevertheless, the movie could go deeper in the story and explore better the features of each character. The end is premature and leaves the story in a superficial plane.

In the small town where the movie develops there is minimum access to basic public services, a complete absence of technology, scarce job opportunities and no authorities. A recreation of what has been historically an abandoned zone in Colombia.

During the movie we can hear some of the beautiful typical songs of the region, inheritance of the African culture. The characters are played by natural actors that give more reality to this true movie. There are amazing images and a nice edition.

As time passes Woody Allen is able to transform himself and his movies. Don't get me wrong, it is obvious that we are seeing a Woody Allen film from the initial credits, but he still can surprise us.

We see different stories through out the film. Some show aspects of the Italian lifestyle and culture, presented from a beautiful Rome; that city that Allen wants to present to us, his Rome. But other stories present again the issues that have been important to him, those problems that for centuries have raised for humankind: love, infidelity, death, success, fame, happiness; those issues that Allen simply loves to discuss.

The cast is charming and I want to highlight a sincere Roberto Benigni; Jesse Eisenberg, that resembles perfectly the young Woody Allen; and the beautiful and talented Ellen Page, with a powerful character that makes you impossible not to fall in love with her.

I have the huge bias of been a Woody Allen fan and that is probably why I enjoyed so much this movie. It is thrilling to see him acting again. See all that neurosis again in the big screen. This movie surprises, can be as surreal as Buñuel would be and also as real as Allen is with daily problematics.

The first seconds are enough. I mean, they were for me. They are able to capture you. And of course it continues for the whole movie.

You know you were blessed with a good film. But I particularly like the way in which this movie begins; I believe this is my favorite part of movies. Hearing Radiohead song "you and whose army?" and watching this little boy's sight; the way in which he looks us. Two eyes that are full of anger, passion and pain. These few seconds are the perfect taste of what will be coming up next.

A great opening for a great (and tough) movie. A story about family, courage and sacrifice. I recommend this film if you want to get real.

Faith Akin, the director, presents a beautiful Hamburg, creates again diverse and strong characters, in a film that returns him to the genre of comedy, and all of these surrounded with an amazing soundtrack. I enjoyed very much this film, the scenography and music is lovely, I could laugh a lot, which is not very common in the recent Akin films such as Gegen die Wand or The Edge of Heaven, which were exquisite, but in a more dramatic and touching way. This film is somehow a return to the soul of much more than a kitchen. Is a sight into the soul of music, food, purpose in life and people indeed. I highly recommend this film, especially for those who, like me, had a great time seeing Im Juli, some years ago.