Calle 54 (2000) ( Calle Fifty Four )

Calle 54 (2000) (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Alternate Title: Calle Fifty Four
Screened, competed or awarded at:
European Film Awards
Goya Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
105 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 2000 and produced in:
Belgium ( France, Benelux )
France ( France, Benelux )
Italy ( Italy, Greece )
Mexico ( Latin America, Mexico )
Spain ( Spain, Portugal )

Directed By:
Fernando Trueba

Written By:
Fernando Trueba

Actors:
Arturo O'Farrill ..... Piano
Rolando Guerrero ..... Congas
Joe Gonzales ..... Bongos
Jim Seeley ..... Trumpet
Matt Hilgenberg ..... Trumpet
Mike Mossman ..... Trumpet
Joe Owens ..... Trumpet
Peter Brainin ..... Tenor Saxophone
Mike Migliore ..... Tenor Saxophone
Marshall McDonald ..... Alto Saxophone
Max Schweiger ..... Baritone Saxophone
Richard Perry ..... Alto Saxophone
Papo Vasquez ..... Trombone
Jack Jeffers ..... Bass Trombone
Sam Burtis ..... Trombone

Synopsis:

In Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title takes its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in Manhattan, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from piano virtuoso Arturo O'Farrill, Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary. The most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arranger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master Tito Puente.

The sultry, hip swiveling rhythms that Latin jazz proclaims is brought to the screen by Spanish film director Fernando Trueba in Calle 54. This is an ode to Latin jazz and what better way to capture the genre than allowing the musicians to speak for themselves. Simple sets and beautifully lit, Trueba travels from New York to Europe and captures a series of wonderful performances by such great stars as the late Tito Puente, Gato Barbieri, Paquito D'Rivera and Jerry Gonzales. Trueba, who won an Oscar in 1993 for best foreign language film Belle E'poque and shares his passion for music through the rumbling energy of these Latino jazz crooners. The picture is bound to draw comparisons to The Buena Vista Social Club, if only for the subject matter. But this film is a completely different take and is not the work of archivists falling in love with a crumbling city and musicians with the grace of natural stars waiting to be rediscovered. Calle 54 is closer in spirit to The Last Waltz in that it mounts a respectful staging of the songs by its performers with an ease and classiness not lavished on jazz since the black-and-white jazz shorts of the 1930's and 40's. Extravagant color stage sets and powerful talent should leave you wide-eyed and hungry for more.

Acclaimed as one of the very best motion pictures ever made about music, the vibrant Calle 54 offers an incredible behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of Grammy Award winner Tito Puente and some of the greatest Latin Jazz artists of our time! Whether it's created in hot backstreet clubs or recording studios from Miami to Havana, the Bronx to Andalusia, the pulsating sounds of Latin Jazz capture the heart and soul of an entire culture! Showcased in a series of extraordinary performances, Latin legends use their immense musical talents to weave an innovative tapestry of sound, style and rhythm that becomes a passionate celebration of life! From the director of the Academy Award winning Belle Epoch (Best Foreign Language film, 1993) featured artists include the late 'godfather of Latin music' Tito Puente, barefoot Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias, Argintinean tenor sax greate Gato Barbieri, Paquio D'Rivera and many more you don't want to miss!

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 09 February, 2015.