Music, religion, family, the male macho culture, superstitions and love are just the few strong aspects of the Hispanic culture that are represented vividly in this film.
To start off, this film is vividly narrated in each change of scene by a woman singing. (It kind of reminds me of the film "Something about Mary")
The "T" in the title of the film is super imposed as a cross. Religion is peppered throughout the film because it is based on a drive from Guantamamera to Havana for a funeral. The funeral is for Georgiano Traveso Garcia. Gerogiana is Gina's (the main character) aunt. While in town from Havana to visit her niece, Georgiana goes to visit her long lost love of 50 years, Candido. As they reminisce of their love and fantasize about being young, Georgiana passes away at Candido's side.
The strength for her family helps Gina, endure this long ride with her overbearing, insensitive, and power hungry husband, Aldolfo. Aldolfo is only along for the ride for the power of glory to succeed at his job. He is in charge of transporting the dead to their final destination at a cost effective rate by any means. As they were traveling through a town Aldofo witnessed locals bowing and praising a statue it the town square. Aldolfo imagined that this adored figure was him. This dream will eventually end Aldolfo's relationship with his wife and also his life.
Aldolfo clearly represents the male macho culture when he brutally slaps Gina around for wearing a dress that he deems inappropriate and scolds her for deciding to take on the career she has always dreamed about. I feel that Aldolfo also represents the direct and cold climate by always being in a hurry to get the job done.....he went as far as wanting to leave a woman on the road that was is labor so he could achieve his delivery time schedule.
Many superstitions/ witch craft examples were shown in this film. Purchasing the garlic to ward off bad spirits. Spitting, blowing smoke, and using a bush branch to brush the wheels and dash board of a truck for good luck and safe travel were just a few.
And last but not least LOVE. The power of love prevails in this film as in many others that were previously viewed in this class. This is my most favorite aspect of the Hispanic culture. Gina finally meets up with Mariano (a former student) that had professed his love to her by a love letter from 30 years ago, the last time they saw each other. They keep bumping into each other through out the film while both discovering that what they have is not what they want. They want more....each other.
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Four AM Renee are you kidding that's what time I get up for work!!!! Nice blog. Well organized and great detail. I too loved the music throughout the film. Your notation about the T suggesting a cross is wonderful, I totally missed that, as well as, the garlic purchase to ward off evil spirits. I didn't make the connection.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observation concerning Aldolfo. He is a pompous, insensitive jerk. He puffs himself up while putting down Gina. If the truth be known she is probably the one with the most going for her--brains,looks and the ability to feel emotions.
And your comments about love, isn't that what it should be all about? I wondered how many times Gina and Mariano's paths needed to be crossed in order for them to see what was right in front of them was what was meant to be! In so many of our films the women have had to face a hardship before they realized they had self worth. It takes the whole film for them to be enlightened to the fact they are entitled to pursue their own desires, whether it be a career or true love.
I wish you continued success in this class and look forward to ending your dilema of your engagement ring.
Four AM Renee are your kidding me!! Good organization and great detail.
ReplyDeleteI too loved the music. Your notaton about the "T" suggesting a cross is wonderful I totally missed that, as well as, the garlic purchase to ward off evil spirits.
I agree with your observation concerning Aldolfo. He is a pompous, insensitive jerk. He puffs himself up while putting down Gina. If truth be known she is the one with the most going for her--brains,personable and sensitive.
And your comments about love, isn't that what it should be all about? I wondered how many times Gina and Mariano's paths needed to be crossed in order for them to see what was right in front of them was meant to be! In so many of our films the women have had to face a hardship before they realized they have self worth. It takes the whole film for them to appreciate they are entitled to pursue their own desires whether it be a career or true love.
I wish you continued success in this class and ending your dilema with your engagement ring.
Renee, I completely agree that Adolfo was quite full of himself. He definitely symbolized machismo in this culture. He did seem to be more of a cold climate personality, at least in this situation. We first see him arguing with a group of funeral directors, insistent that this relay system of transporting a corpse to its final resting place will be cost and fuel efficient. He probably felt fortune had just fallen into his lap when Yoyita died and needed to be taken back to Havana. He was very much a task master in trying to get the body where it needed to be. He does not seem to exhibit the hot climate characteristic of being concerned with the relationship and the feeling aspect of the situation. He does not show that the person is more important than efficiency or time. We see this when Candido decides he can no longer ride in the car with Adolfo on the funeral journey due to Adolfo's behavior and communication. Overall, I liked this movie. Even though the subject revolved around a death, the coincidences that occurred were sometimes humorous.
ReplyDeleteThe "T" or cross that is accented in the beginning of the film is exactly what you said it was, the punctuation of religion in Hispanic culture. Since this movie was a satire on death, I thought it was very unusual that this film would show this from the start of the movie. Your blog accented many things that I did not obtain from the film, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGREAT POST RENEE,
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice that the "T" in the title of the film is super imposed as a cross. Perhaps this was a discrete way to suggest that this is a culture with very strong ties to its religion. Good call on that detail.
Also I agree with you on Aldofo's machoism and poor treatment of his wife. He had only had one interest throughout the film. He wanted to advance politically and it depended on his plan to transport the deceased in the most financially affordable way. He must have been smoking the wrong cigars with those plans!
Another good point: Aldofo witnessed locals bowing and praising a statue it the town square. Aldolfo imagined that this adored figure was him. He was so delusional in this film and so full of himself. What I don't understand is why the council went for this plan of his.
You brought up many great points of this film and I enjoyed your prospective of this film.