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Carla's Song [DVD] [1997] [US Import]

Robert Carlyle , Oyanka Cabezas , Ken Loach    DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
Price: £16.95
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Carla's Song [DVD] [1997] [US Import] + Land And Freedom [1995] [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: Robert Carlyle, Oyanka Cabezas, Scott Glenn, Salvador Espinoza, Louise Goodall
  • Directors: Ken Loach
  • Writers: Paul Laverty
  • Producers: Gerardo Herrero, Sally Hibbin, Ulrich Felsberg
  • Format: Colour, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, PAL
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: Fox Lorber
  • DVD Release Date: 30 Mar 1999
  • Run Time: 127 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00000IC0N
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 193,217 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Synopsis

Paul Laverty drew on his experiences as a lawyer working with human rights groups in Nicaragua in writing the script for Carla's Song, which stars Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) as George, a Glasgow bus driver. Attracted to Carla (Oyanka Cabezas), a beautiful but impoverished Nicaraguan woman who often rides his bus, he sometimes allows her to ride for free--and is fired as a result. But he keeps in touch with Carla, helping her find a place to live in a spare room of a friend's apartment after learning that she's become detached from a dance troupe, forcing her to dance in the streets of Glasgow for meager remuneration. As they continue to see each other, George finds that Carla is subject to drastic mood swings, a result of her Sandinista boyfriend, Antonio (Richard Loza), having been captured by the Contras. Realizing that nothing will be resolved until Carla discovers the truth about Antonio, George agrees to accompany her to Nicaragua to try to find him. Carlyle is typically excellent in this film by hard-hitting English filmmaker Ken Loach, who is known for casting an unswerving eye on complex political and human rights issues.

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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Another superb act of realism. 16 Oct 2007
By @GeekZilla9000 TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
The start of this film is typical Ken Loach. Real people living real life in a film so drenched in reality that it could have been filmed using hidden cameras in Glasgow.

Loach does something on screen that I've never seen any other director do. He manages to get performances so realistic that you feel compelled to stay tuned to see what happens - a bit like a soap opera, but good. You genuinely feel for the characters and believe that they exist - this is especially important for a Loach film as they tend to be politically charged - and the people involved HAVE to feel real in order for the politics to matter.

The first part of this film is set in Glasgow and shows how the Jack-the-lad bus driver George lets an exotic looking passenger (Carla) escape from his bus after she is shouted down by a ticket inspector. She snook onto the bus and has no ticket, George defends her and pays the 40p himself for her a ticket.

She later sees him and thanks him, she even gives him a present for his act of kindness. From that moment on George is intrigued by her and through his persistence they start to develop a friendship. George even `borrows' his bus for a romantic walk in the Scottish countryside.

Robert Carlisle is nothing short of fantastic in this film. His natural charisma helps carry the character of George, and he portrays all the frustration and anger the character has in a touching way.

Carla's suicide attempt, post-traumatic stress, and knowledge that she has a difficult past help George build a strong protective instinct for her. They become lovers and then the film takes a dramatic cinematic shift.

The rest of the film is based in Nicaragua where revolution is all around and Carla must face her demons. Here we see Carla come out of her shell as she begins to feel more comfortable about herself. We she an almost childlike innocence about her and sympathise about the unspoken horrific event which she is so rocked by. They search for her friend and former lover Antonio.

Oyanka Cabezas manages to put across the vulnerability and independence of the mysterious Carla in an equally touching way.

Whilst in Nicaragua they find Bradley - a former associate of Carla and a US worker over there. Bradley played by Alien's Scot Glen provides the mouthpiece for the political teachings of the film. His character is difficult to like initially, but you always feel that this is because he is embittered by people's lack of understanding of the appalling situation in Nicaragua. It is he who explains how the Americans have effectively sponsored the killings of innocent people. Glen acts well in the role, but he seems to stick out like a sore thumb when compared to the more naturalistic acting of the rest of the cast.

I'm not going to discuss the plot any further, but there are scenes with Robert Carlisle which glued me to the screen. His exchange of T-shirts at a bar in Nicaragua was such a powerful scene and couldn't help but make you love George even more.

The film doesn't feel as preachy as other reviews have made out - but it does certainly feel a bit all over the place at times. As if it's trying to cover more than it can in the time it has.

If it wasn't for the strength of Robert Carlisle's performance I'd have maybe given this three stars (as I can't give it 3.5), but because he was so enigmatic during the whole feature - I've given this a four.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Educated and Entertained. 22 Jan 2010
By Bob Salter TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I watched Ken Loach's "Kes"(69) many years ago, and was mightily impressed. I still chuckle at the memory of the football scene. It was probably the first film that awoke a social conscience in me. I remember wanting to put on a flat cap, shout ecky thump and head north to where the real men lived. Remarkably the evergreen Loach is still at it, even though he qualified for his free bus pass some time ago. He has always been politically engaged and has sought to educate us about political conflicts. In the case of "Carla's Song"(98), it was about the civil war in Nicaragua.

The film is a rather flimsy story of love between a rebellious Glasgow bus driver, played by Robert Carlyle, and Carla a Nicaraguan woman trying to escape from the horrors of her past. The two slowly try to build a relationship, but this is constantly hampered by Carla's past experiences. I am reminded of words from the Bob Dylan song "Tangled up in Blue". "Then all the while I was alone, the past was close behind". Carlyle decides that the only way to excise the demons is to take Carla back to her homeland, and try to find the answers to haunting questions. This puts them into the danger zone as they seek Carla's family and an old lover. We head to a bittersweet finale. Will true love win the day?

As a love story the film does not quite work for me. The relationship is a little contrived and unlikely. The story itself lacks any real structure and is just a means for Loach to fall back on his common themes of politics gone sour, and mans inhumanity to man. Robert Carlyle is excellent in the lead role. That solid American actor Scott Glenn turns up improbably in the guise of an ex CIA man now batting for the other side. He even picks up a gun for the cause, which reminded me of his role in the western "Silverado". I just had to get some reference to my beloved westerns in! The film does contain some nice scenes, most notably when Carlyle takes Carla on a trip to the hills above Loch Lomond in his double decker bus.

But the love story takes second place to the politics. Franklin D Roosevelt supposedly said in 1939 of the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza, who was perceived to be anti communist, "He may be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch". The quote has often been used for those that back unjust causes for misguided reasons. The US backed the Contras who were the last struggling embers of the Samoza days, thus prolonging an agonising conflict. In 1984 they were taken to the world court in the Hague where they were ordered to pay 17 billion dollars as compensation for illegal military intervention. I am not being political here, merely stating the facts. Mr Loach has, through the medium of film, made me much more aware of what actually took place in Nicaragua. Politics and films do not always mix in the wrong hands, but in the hands of Loach it works perfectly. He wears his heart on his sleeve as they say. I was both educated and entertained. A happy mix. Recommended.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars River City meets the Killing Fields 13 Sep 2009
By LXIX TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Carla's Song is a strange film, but highly watchable. The concept of a Glasgow bus driver taking pity on a Nicaraguan refugee with no money to pay her fare and then falling for her is an unusual one. Does it work? Kind of, but not really. The relationship accelerates at an implausible pace and before we know it the Glasgow bus driver has dumped his blonde fiancee and is in Central America rapidly learning about the sandanistas etc amidst guerilla warfare.

Although the premise of the film is quite strange it's still an entertaining story and has a number of amusing scenes. For example, the dialogue exchange at the very end about the CIA and the Glasgow buses is an absolute classic.

Set in 1987, the film-makers have paid attention to detail (including the old red Strathclyde Regional Council buses and Glasgow's Miles Better t-shirts). Some of the actors here are also familiar faces and do seem to pop up all the time in Scottish films (Orphans, My Name Is Joe etc).

Overall, an unusual, amusing tale of contrasts (urban Glasgow and the Nicaraguan jungle), dark at times and with light humour, but entertaining.

There's also a raft of useful extras on this DVD package.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Director's cut not as good as the original
I liked the original better with the scene's in that were cut in the director's version Ecxellenr film though deeply moving. I suggest parental guidance at least
Published 2 months ago by E. H. Muller
5.0 out of 5 stars DVD
Great item, arrived promptly in good condition, it was very helpful to find the product I wanted at such short notice
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Julie A. Collison
5.0 out of 5 stars Fab movie.
Really fabulous film - one I would highly reccomend. The drama is quite interesting and the plot different to many of the usual films we see nowadays. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Louisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully moving. A brilliant depiction of truth.
As one of my favourite films, even before purchase, 'Carla's Song' is a moving and very real story highlighting the struggle of refugees, and those still living in Nicaragua. Read more
Published 10 months ago by RebeccaBrenna
4.0 out of 5 stars Another (Ambitious) Political Romance From Ken Loach
Ken Loach's 1996 film Carla's Song is another example of the trademark Loach mix of politics, romance and comedy, on this occasion focusing on the political situation in Nicaragua... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Keith M
2.0 out of 5 stars bad sound quality
The sound quality of this DVD is very bad especially at the beginning. Terrible background 'hissing/humming'
Published on 2 Oct 2010 by sharon
5.0 out of 5 stars Carla's Song
It is 1987 and George (played by Robert Carlyle) a young bus driver in Glasgow picks up a Nicaraguan refugee (played by Oyanka Cabezas) and when she does not pay her fare he... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2010 by Mr. D. Rowland
5.0 out of 5 stars a simple tale of struggle & love
This has to be one of Ken Loach's finest movies. He exposes the American backed counter insurgency against the democratically elected and Socialist government of Nicaragua. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Harry Perkins
4.0 out of 5 stars A film of two parts, both excellent
The early part of the film is gritty realism, kitchen sink drama with a bigger picture setting, of the type Loach has excelled in. Read more
Published on 24 April 2009 by Old Socialist
5.0 out of 5 stars Ken Loach at his best
Brilliant film - very moving and will stay with me for a long time - thoroughly recommend it .
Published on 21 Mar 2009 by Mrs. M. Layden
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