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Product Description
A love affair between two musicians spans six decades and numerous countries and political regimes in this animated romantic drama. In 1948, Chico (voice of Eman Xor Ona) is a hotshot jazz pianist living in Havana, where his reputation as a ladies' man nearly outshines his talent at the keyboard. One night, Chico sees Rita (voice of Limara Meneses) singing "Love For Sale" at a nightclub, and it's love at first sight, though Rita is put off by the fact Chico already has a steady girl. However, when Chico backs Rita during a talent competition held at a Havana radio station, she realizes they're musically simpatico, and her heart soon follows her creative instincts. But after a quarrel with Chico, Rita is approach by Ron, an American talent scout who says he can make her a star, and she takes him up on the offer, traveling with him to New York. Not wanting to lose Rita, Chico and his best friend Ramon head to New York City, but as Rita achieves fame and fortune in the United States, Chico finds the limelight is keeping them apart, and after returning to Cuba, the island's unstable political climate proves even better than Ron at keeping him away from Rita.
CHICO AND RITA was a collaboration between filmmaker and music producer Fernando Trueba, artist and designer Javier Mariscal and animator and director Tono Errando, and features cartoon cameo appearances from a number of legendary jazz artists, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey - in the tradition; of the Latin ballad, the bolero - brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in music and love. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Toronto International Film Festival, ...Chico & Rita ( Chico and Rita )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I have been a big fan of Mariscals comic art since I first came across it years back and have been looking forward to seeing this for a long time especially as I have recently become a major Jazz convert.
The package contains a very good quite moving featurette about the making of the film which is not only helpful in understanding the film but also helped me clarify for me the only area where I can criticise the film. The animation was stongly based on real live action filming of scenes beforehand and does suffer from the same drawbacks of digital animation in that the characters tend to glide and lack life unlike most 2d drawn animation where exaggeration and input of the animators personality actually gives characters more life than most digimation. In someways the less realistic simplified Mariscal animals in his usual comicart are far more Jazz in spirit than these human characters photoshop type qualities.
On now to the strengths of the film. Mariscals backgrounds are stunning.40's Cuba and New York come to life in beautiful intricate detail. And the music. Here they have been spot on in not choosing to feature real life recordings of the Jazz musicians featured, instead they commisioned Jazz musicians to interpret the styles of those musicians which brings the score to life in a way archive material would have never achieved. I absolutely loved the Ben Webster scene and it was not surprising to hear the Sax player they used was an old friend of Ben Webster. The interplay between visuals and music is easily up to the standards of the best of Scorcese and Powell and Pressburger.
The 15 certificate I felt was a bit over the top for "graphic sex-scenes" although my wife disaggrees and thinks that 15 rating was correct where I think 12 would have been appropriate in relation to children; certainly there is nothing in there that would make me feel unconfortable waching this with my parents.
The package contains a very good quite moving featurette about the making of the film which is not only helpful in understanding the film but also helped me clarify for me the only area where I can criticise the film. The animation was stongly based on real live action filming of scenes beforehand and does suffer from the same drawbacks of digital animation in that the characters tend to glide and lack life unlike most 2d drawn animation where exaggeration and input of the animators personality actually gives characters more life than most digimation. In someways the less realistic simplified Mariscal animals in his usual comicart are far more Jazz in spirit than these human characters photoshop type qualities.
On now to the strengths of the film. Mariscals backgrounds are stunning.40's Cuba and New York come to life in beautiful intricate detail. And the music. Here they have been spot on in not choosing to feature real life recordings of the Jazz musicians featured, instead they commisioned Jazz musicians to interpret the styles of those musicians which brings the score to life in a way archive material would have never achieved. I absolutely loved the Ben Webster scene and it was not surprising to hear the Sax player they used was an old friend of Ben Webster. The interplay between visuals and music is easily up to the standards of the best of Scorcese and Powell and Pressburger.
The 15 certificate I felt was a bit over the top for "graphic sex-scenes" although my wife disaggrees and thinks that 15 rating was correct where I think 12 would have been appropriate in relation to children; certainly there is nothing in there that would make me feel unconfortable waching this with my parents.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this film at the cinema and was amazed how a cartoon could capture me so completely! The animation and drawing (sorry, not very technical about these things!) really draw you in and you begin to feel it is real. In places I had tears in my eyes! If you've been to Havana it's lovely to try to spot places you know in the animation. It's a really sensitively made film and I loved it so I've put my pre-order in! Great music of course... The previous reviewer has said about the story line so I won't. As it's set around the time of the revolution it does show how awful it must have been if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and separated from loved ones (hope that doesn't give too much away!). See it!!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Everything about this film is bliss. Once you see the car chase in 1950s Havanna, you are transported to this place and this time. The attention to detail is stunning but most of all this film breathes music. If you are remotely interested in the history of Jazz you will love the little hints and accurate details about the jazz giants of that era.
But even if you don't, right here is a deeply moving love story that you will never forget.
But even if you don't, right here is a deeply moving love story that you will never forget.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful!
I saw this film in the cinema and simply loved it, so I bought the DVD for several friends as soon as it was released. Happily the people I bought it for loved it as much as I did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jan
In one word: hackneyed
I've been meaning to get hold of this since I first saw it advertised at cinemas a couple of years ago - having a Latin American girlfriend called Rita may have had something to do... Read more
Published 2 months ago by schesis
Chico and Rita
The music was great and the story was romantic but I thought the animation was poor. The animation lacked artistic creativity and too frequently relied upon stereotypes to depict... Read more
Published 3 months ago by narrowgirl
Chico and Rita (DVD)
A great deal of the charm of this animated film is due to beautiful singer Idania Valdes, who recreates sweet and soft romantic versions of Latin standards such as Beseme Mucho. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Derek Vernon-morris
A joy
A love story to Cuba and afrojazz, funny and sad. A sumptious visual and aural treat. The film captures Cuba on the brink of communism and dicatorship.
Published 4 months ago by KM
Great
Came on time package was great as well , film is really good and everyone should see it will get more bluerays
Published 7 months ago by showbiz
Chico and Rita
`Chico and Rita' is a wonderful animation mainly set in Havana, Cuba, but also taking in New York, Paris and Las Vegas. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Spider Monkey
Music from Havana
I bought this DVD for my sister in law's mother aged 83. She was born & brought up in Cuba and only left when Castro came to power in 1959. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RFC
Chico and rita
I really enjoyed this film and all the more so for watching the interview with the makers of it. Beautifully made with exquisite attention to detail. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Nee
A superb movie but BEWARE, no chance to enjoy without subtitles!
I buyed in amazon.co.uk this wonderful movie in the confidence that the blu-ray options include the logic in/out english subtitles. But not!. Read more
Published 10 months ago by wasntborntofollow
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