Last night I saw Cesar Chavez and simply put I felt elevated as a Mexican-American who has been an actor for the past 32 years struggling to be cast in such roles that are in this movie. It is elegant, sophisticated and moves well. 90 minutes of film featuring us made by us. Right before I saw it I read the NYTimes review by AO Scott who spoke of the films shortcomings, that its a hagiography (only the positive, celebratory aspects of ones life). But for me and I think many others, like the largely Chicano/Mexican audience I saw it with last night, there was an undeniable emotion that we can be presented as classy, intelligent, beautiful and complex. Hell, even the Filipino-American people were up on screen if only by mere mention and however briefly. THAT is even progress dare I say, the laying of a groundwork, despite it being 2014. Filipinos and Mexicans are and have been contributors to this thing called America. It does MEAN something for us to be up there on that screen to be seen by the masses. When all aspects of the art of cinema (beautiful cinematography and score, performance, et al) show us with such class alongside folks like John Malcovich (co Exec. producer) and Julian Sands and the scene where Cesar Chavez went to Europe to enlist allies and so won them over, it MEANS something to us. IT FEELS GOOD. Yeah, its not a perfect or the greatest film of all time but I hope its supported and given a chance. Change through film.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:49:39 +0000
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