by the El Reportero’s news services
César ChávezMore than 1,000 farm workers who benefit from the legacy of César Chávez attended Tuesday, April 1 in California’s Central Valley a special preview of the film about the late civil rights activist and labor leader’s life.
The movie César Chávez will screen at what is now the National Historic Landmark of Forty Acres, outside Delano, where the United Farm Workers co-founder fasted for almost a month as part of his peaceful fight for field hands’ rights.
“We’re celebrating the legacy of César Chávez but we’re also acknowledging that we’re still active and working for a better life for farmworkers,” UFW Vice President Armando Elenes told Efe.
“In this case, field hands will be among the first to see the movie,” he said.
Director Diego Luna and América Ferrera, who plays César’s wife Helen Chávez, will be on hand Tuesday for the outdoor preview.
Also expected is Paul Chávez, son of the farmworkers’ leader and president of the César Chávez Foundation, along with UFW President Arturo Rodríguez.
“We keep working – the United Farm Workers and the rest of the movement – to improve farm Marrónhands’ working conditions.
According to NY Daily News’ Jordan Hoffman, beyond the speeches, however, this film lacks fire. The struggles of the exploited workers are too vague, as are the overall goals of Chávez’s union. Lacking specifics, we’re unenthused. That’s because we’ve seen this kind of film before.
America Ferrera is wasted as Chávez’s staunch wife, Helen, as is Rosario Dawson as Dolores Huerta, one of his top associates, adds Hoffman.
“The rising defiance and the rallies are indeed stirring, but the scenes of Chávez’s personal life are vague and flat. A subplot concerning his defiant eldest son feels shoehorned in. What should be a transformative drama about the drive toward social justice consuming an individual ultimately feels like a midbudget TV movie. Archival footage of then-Gov. Ronald Reagan and then-President Richard Nixon serves as a simplistic target for audience hissing,” Hoffman wrote in his review for the Daily News.
César Chávez (Michael Peña)“Some of Chávez’s strong character shines through, but this isn’t the movie he’s owed,” Hoffman concluded.
Celia Cruz joins Walk of Legends at Apollo Theater in NYC
Legendary salsa singer Celia Cruz has been honored with a place on the Walk of Legends at New York’s Apollo Theater.
The late Cuban-born singer was honored on Saturday, March 24, marking the 50th anniversary of her first appearance on the stage of the iconic New York Theater.
The concert was part of a series commemorating the 80th anniversary of the legendary Harlem Theater.
Cruz made her Apollo debut on March 22, 1964, sharing the stage with Cuban musician Machito and Joe Cuba, a Puerto Rican musician.
The “Queen of Salsa” is the first Latin artist to be honored with a place at the Apollo’s Walk of Legends.
Celia Cruz, who died of cancer on July 16, 2003, in her Fort Lee, New Jersey, home at the age of 77, is buried in a mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
Guadalajara kicks off 29th Film Festival
The 29th Guadalajara International Film Festival, or FICG, which has the Canadian province of Quebec as guest of honor, was inaugurated at the Telmex Auditorium in this western Mexican city.
Sara Garcia (1895-1980), the “grandma of Mexican movies,” was dedicated the Posthumous Tribute, and was accepted in her name by Enrique Vidal, a personal friend of the unforgettable actress.
Countries with the greatest participation in the festival were Mexico with 370 films, Spain with 306, Argentina with 153, Brazil with 139, Chile with 55, and the province of Quebec with more than 60.
