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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 7:57:52 GMT
Ruben Blades & Linda Ronstadt in Robert Mugge’s THE RETURN OF RUBEN BLADES
In Robert Mugge's 1985 portrait of Ruben Blades, Ruben is seen attempting to carry his Latin music and Spanish lyrics into mainstream U.S. acceptance, with Linda Ronstadt offering to meet him halfway at a time when she was just starting to explore her own Mexican heritage. Although their respective efforts haven't yet achieved the widespread cultural makeover which each of them would have liked, they've at least pointed out the inevitability of North American synthesis yet to come. Beyond that, no one sings more sweetly than these two did together. Also part of the discussion is author Pete Hamill.Storyline
The story of Panamanian "salsa" singer Ruben Blades and his success in crossing over from the Hispanic market to the international arena.
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Plot Keywords: independent film | character name in title | See All (2) »
Genres: Documentary | Music
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User Reviews
Excellent piece on this brilliant musician, poet, ambassador
23 October 2006 | by ssolano510 – See all my reviews
Anything that bring this singer's artistry to life is worth my time. This documentary revolves around the excellence of Ruben's life and his poetry as well as the outstanding band that he leads -- Seis Del Solar. It begins with Ruben at his Harvard graduation and gets better and better. As a absolute fan of this master, I was impressed by the choice of visual landscape, he shows his accomplishment, his parents, his town in Panama, the city life in Panama while cutting to his performance of songs from his landmark album "Buscando America." This album helped me return to listen to the fabulous musical arrangements and lyrics of Latin music. I did not appreciate much of what was being done in the early 80s in Latin music, but this man's words turned me around. He reads (in English) the lyrics to songs like "Todos vuelven," and "Buscando America" and they read as lovely in English as they sound in Spanish with a melody. I can only aspire to be as gifted and talented as this man and my son is now a great fan. We love Ruben and I'm surprised I just got around to seeing this fabulous documentary. If you love Ruben, are interested in learning more about his incredible life and dedication to human causes, his poetry and music, then you MUST CHECK THIS OUT. I am more inspired and am searching for everything else that may be out there by him. I write this as I listen to Mar De Sur from the Tiempos album, another masterpiece!!! (Sicarios is chilling!! -- hoy cambiara su vida!!!) Love you Rube!!! You make us all proud! |
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 8:02:47 GMT
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 8:05:44 GMT
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 8:12:15 GMT
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 8:13:01 GMT
Ruben Blades - The Return Of Ruben Blades
YouTube Movies
125M subscribers
Robert Mugge's portrait of actor, writer, attorney, activist, and Grammy Award winning world music artist Ruben Blades. - THE RETURN OF RUBEN BLADES follows the singer to Harvard, where he gets his master's degree in international law; to his old neighborhood in Panama; to California for a recording session with Linda Ronstadt, and to New York for a performance at S.O.B.'s. The music is a joy, as danceable as it is intelligent, and Mr. Blades makes every nuance count. Transferred to HD from the original 16mm film and lovingly restored
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Post by the Scribe on Oct 12, 2020 8:19:01 GMT
Artful Conversation in 'The Return of Ruben Blades'www.popmatters.com/the-return-of-ruben-blades-artful-conversation-2495416704.html
DANILO CASTRO12 Sep 2016
Like the man himself, The Return of Rubén Blades is proof that art is important, but only a part of living a rich, thoughtful life. THE RETURN OF RUBÉN BLADES
Director: Robert Mugge
Cast: Rubén Blades, Pete Hamill, Linda Ronstandt
Distributor: MVD Visual
US RELEASE DATE: 2016-07-22
At its worst, the music documentary is a hasty cash-in. By pandering to hot artists with backstage footage and flashy live performance, the potential for insight into the creative process is sidelined for a flattering, superficial glance. At its best, however, the artform can shift perception and introduce an artist to a wider international audience. That is precisely what filmmaker Robert Mugge set out to do with The Return of Rubén Blades, and thanks to the compelling nature of his muse, this 1985 effort succeeds.
Blades, a Panamanian salsero who struck it big in the '70s, was at a transitional point in his career. Buscando América (1984), his first release without bandleader Willie Colón, was a startling departure from salsa’s typically horn-heavy arrangements. Through the integration of doo-wop, spoken word, and arena rock with socially conscious songwriting, the album’s acclaim elevated Blades from latino star to global breakout. This success bled into a flood of alternative outlets, among which included the publishing of political essays, a law degree at Harvard University, and a starring role in the film Crossover Dreams (1985). By any and all measures, Blades had proven himself a modern Renaissance Man -- a status that Mugge highlights through shifting topics and the singer’s own astute views.
Blades is undoubtedly well versed in the art of conversation. He’s rarely without a topic of exploration, and his interviews throughout the documentary establish this with frank, comforting casualness. “We could live in a ghetto situation, but we didn’t have to life in a ghetto situation of our minds,” he explains, discussing salsa music and the fight against latino stereotypes in Hollywood. They’re dense notions to be tossed out, but the backdrop of a park in Panama establishes the singer’s greatest tool: plainspoken charm. He's a man with plenty to say about modern society, and like the great poets and musicians before him, he doesn’t pander to his audience or talk down to them in complex rhetoric. Instead, discussions of Blades’ hometown are held right alongside its inhabitants -- an environment he maneuvers with admiration, nostalgia, and love.
Away from Panama, the bulk of the narrative takes place in Blades’ adopted home, New York City. It is here, amidst the monochromatic calm of the singer’s apartment, that his political ideals and spirited songwriting become one. He discusses the inspiration behind his most popular works, from the intervention anthem “Tiburon” (“Shark”) to the swaying satire of “Buscando América” (“Looking for America”) with eagerness and an accompanying English translation. Mugge uses a slow zoom approach, emphasizing the fact that Blades is offering insight into his craft; and the aesthetic choice works likes a charm.
Anecdotes about “Pedro Navaja” (“Peter Knife”) being inspired by “Mack the Knife”, or the breakup that led to the Linda Ronstadt duet “Silencios” (“Silences”) serve as highlights for both casual music fans and salsa fans as a result. The latter tune is especially enjoyable for the singer to dish on, as it allows him to discuss salsa’s future and poke fun at his own difficulty making lightweight songs. “That’s lighter?” he quips, imitating a friend’s reaction.
But this commitment to content is what makes Blades’ work so special. A live performance, filmed at New York’s S.O.B.’s (Sounds of Brazil) Club, shows his audience to be more interested in the message than they are the rumbling melodies. A definite rarity for the genre, the crowd taking Blades in does so with intent listening and little else -- a reception typically reserved for a poetry reading. Mugge also staggers each of these song to align with their backstory, letting them breath in between the interviews and tranquil dialogue. In doing so, the filmmaker constructs the rare musical doc that uses music as a tool instead of the central focus; a trait that captures his large narrative canvas. In fact, the varied tone is covered so well that when Blades does take the stage, his presence as a singer simply become an extension of his extracurricular activities.
In the last three decades, this extracurricular schedule has only increased. Blades became a respected actor in Hollywood (currently with Hands of Stone), a political force in Panama, and a continued icon in the music industry with eight Grammys. And yet, few documentaries have been made in his honor (Abner Benaim is currently shooting Rubén Blades Is Not My Name), leaving Mugge’s film, with its exuberance and leisurely charm, a definitive study. While the political talk will prove off-putting to some, the film’s inspired words and actions are universal. Like the man himself, The Return of Rubén Blades is proof that while art is important, its only part of living a rich, thoughtful life.
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Post by the Scribe on Aug 2, 2022 17:44:53 GMT
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