They were all so incredibly young. Caetano Veloso opened Salvador’s Vila Velha Theater, a milestone event for the city, at the age of 21. Pianist Francisco Tenório Jr., the subject of Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s “They Shot the Piano Player,” recorded one record as band leader, in March 1964, when he was 23 years old.
But he played piano on some of the greatest samba jazz records of all time, some with Raul de Sousa on trombone and J.T. Meirelles on tenor sax.
“These guys were the geniuses of Brazil music and they were only 23 years old,” Oscar winning writer-director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”) told Variety at Annecy.
If Tenório isn’t better known, it is partly because he was murdered, “desaparecido,” in 1976 in Argentina while on tour, a full life suddenly annulled at the age of 35, as a military coup d’etat took hold of the country.
Nobody...
But he played piano on some of the greatest samba jazz records of all time, some with Raul de Sousa on trombone and J.T. Meirelles on tenor sax.
“These guys were the geniuses of Brazil music and they were only 23 years old,” Oscar winning writer-director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”) told Variety at Annecy.
If Tenório isn’t better known, it is partly because he was murdered, “desaparecido,” in 1976 in Argentina while on tour, a full life suddenly annulled at the age of 35, as a military coup d’etat took hold of the country.
Nobody...
- 6/18/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Buenos Aires — New York-based Ammo Content, a technology-oriented film-tv distributor has acquired rights to two Spanish modern classics – “Chico and Rita” and “Historias para no dormir” – as it expands into Europe and Latin America, and also explores ever more licensing to new markets such as rising Avod players.
Directed by Academy Award-winning Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”), Javier Mariscal and Tono Errondo, “Chico and Rita” yoked broad strike flamboyant animation and a Latin Jazz score by legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés in a love story set between Cuba, New York and Europe in the 1940s and 1950s which was acquired by Gkids for the U.S. and nominated for an Academy Award as best animated feature film.
Created and presented by Narciso Ibanez Serrador, “Historias para no dormir” is an pioneering Spanish TV series, adapting classics from Ray Bradbury and Edgar Allen Poe. First aired by public broadcaster Tve in 1966, it...
Directed by Academy Award-winning Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”), Javier Mariscal and Tono Errondo, “Chico and Rita” yoked broad strike flamboyant animation and a Latin Jazz score by legendary Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés in a love story set between Cuba, New York and Europe in the 1940s and 1950s which was acquired by Gkids for the U.S. and nominated for an Academy Award as best animated feature film.
Created and presented by Narciso Ibanez Serrador, “Historias para no dormir” is an pioneering Spanish TV series, adapting classics from Ray Bradbury and Edgar Allen Poe. First aired by public broadcaster Tve in 1966, it...
- 12/2/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
There always seems to be a shortage of animated features created with an adult audience in mind. Only once or twice a year there seems to be one worth watching, and though it’s been a couple years since its initial theatrical release, Chico & Rita is now getting its day in the sun with a beautiful Blu-ray combo pack release. Under the direction of Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba and a duo of newcomers in Tono Errando and the visual designer Javier Mariscal, the film surveys the explosion of Cuban music on the world stage during the late 40s and early 50s through a rather slight story of disenfranchised love. Where the tiresome relationship plot falters, the film’s immense respect for the Latin influenced jazz that the story is entrenched in and the impeccable recreation of the time period through gorgeous animation give more than enough reason to forgive its oversights.
- 10/2/2012
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
With its jubilant, colorfully expressionistic style enlivening an old-fashioned love story, the delightful "Chico & Rita" might not look out of place in a retrospective of classic MGM musicals, save for two details: It's neither American nor live action. Sporting a whopping three directors, this time-spanning Cuban tale of passion follows a pair of musically charged lovers as they come together and break apart over the course of several decades. An Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature, "Chico & Rita" would have taken center stage at the same awards show 50 years ago. Today, it's a slight but touching exercise carried by brilliant visuals and a bouncy soundtrack that won't quit. Its two main directors, Fernando Trueba ("Belle Epoque") and noted designer Javier Mariscal (Tono Errando, Mariscal's brother and a comparative unknown, takes the third credit), team with musical composer Bebo Valdés for a dazzling...
- 2/7/2012
- Indiewire
Latino animation Chico & Rita is set to become a stage musical, and the stars were out for the Chemical Brothers' new film
Cuban heels
Hot on the heels of its Oscar nomination last week, animated feature Chico & Rita is set to become a stage musical. The film, telling the romantic story of a Havana piano player and a beautiful singer separated by time and circumstance, has all the ingredients for a stage show, including a successful soundtrack by the late-flowering Cuban musician Bebo Valdés. The film also features music from Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tito Puente and Thelonious Monk, and is set in the late-1940s period when the New York jazz scene began to absorb immigrant percussionists from Havana's nightclub scene such as Chano Pozo. The film, produced on the Isle of Man by CinemaNX and directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, has already won a European...
Cuban heels
Hot on the heels of its Oscar nomination last week, animated feature Chico & Rita is set to become a stage musical. The film, telling the romantic story of a Havana piano player and a beautiful singer separated by time and circumstance, has all the ingredients for a stage show, including a successful soundtrack by the late-flowering Cuban musician Bebo Valdés. The film also features music from Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tito Puente and Thelonious Monk, and is set in the late-1940s period when the New York jazz scene began to absorb immigrant percussionists from Havana's nightclub scene such as Chano Pozo. The film, produced on the Isle of Man by CinemaNX and directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal, has already won a European...
- 1/29/2012
- by Jason Solomons
- The Guardian - Film News
The book of the animated film about the lives of two Latin musicians leaves Rachel Cooke feeling exhilarated
Ten years ago, the Spanish film director Fernando Trueba asked the artist Javier Mariscal to create a poster for his Latin jazz documentary, Calle 54. Though neither of them knew it at the time, this was to be the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership and, last year, the pair finally released Chico & Rita, an animated film. Chico & Rita tells the story of a gifted piano player and a beautiful singer and their adventures in 50s Havana, Las Vegas, Hollywood and New York – and it has a superb soundtrack by the Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés (it also features numbers by Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, and Dizzy Gillespie). When it hit the festivals, it was widely acclaimed – our own Philip French called it "utterly delightful... affecting, funny... erotic" – and no wonder. Truly,...
Ten years ago, the Spanish film director Fernando Trueba asked the artist Javier Mariscal to create a poster for his Latin jazz documentary, Calle 54. Though neither of them knew it at the time, this was to be the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership and, last year, the pair finally released Chico & Rita, an animated film. Chico & Rita tells the story of a gifted piano player and a beautiful singer and their adventures in 50s Havana, Las Vegas, Hollywood and New York – and it has a superb soundtrack by the Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés (it also features numbers by Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, and Dizzy Gillespie). When it hit the festivals, it was widely acclaimed – our own Philip French called it "utterly delightful... affecting, funny... erotic" – and no wonder. Truly,...
- 6/4/2011
- by Rachel Cooke
- The Guardian - Film News
In this week’s Music in the movies, Glen looks over the scores for such films as Source Code, Submarine and Thor…
We’re not even half way through 2011 yet, and we’ve already heard some spectacular movie scores from seasoned composers and newcomers alike. Here are some of the movie soundtracks released recently that are worthy of your attention.
Source Code – Chris Bacon
Duncan Jones’ follow up to the fantastic Moon saw him work with a larger budget, but also with a property that other people were attached to prior to his involvement. Despite this, many of the themes evident in his debut feature can be seen in Source Code. I really enjoyed the film, and I know a lot is being said about the ending, but I didn’t feel that it derailed the film by any means. It leaves a certain amount to be left to the viewer’s imagination,...
We’re not even half way through 2011 yet, and we’ve already heard some spectacular movie scores from seasoned composers and newcomers alike. Here are some of the movie soundtracks released recently that are worthy of your attention.
Source Code – Chris Bacon
Duncan Jones’ follow up to the fantastic Moon saw him work with a larger budget, but also with a property that other people were attached to prior to his involvement. Despite this, many of the themes evident in his debut feature can be seen in Source Code. I really enjoyed the film, and I know a lot is being said about the ending, but I didn’t feel that it derailed the film by any means. It leaves a certain amount to be left to the viewer’s imagination,...
- 5/9/2011
- Den of Geek
The Green Hornet; Chico & Rita; Confessions; In Our Name
There are few things more depressing than watching a genuinely inventive director being overpowered by the machinery of a franchise blockbuster. Take The Green Hornet (2010, Sony, 12), the long-gestating big-screen spin-off from the 30s radio serial and 60s TV show which is technically "Un Film de Michel Gondry" although frankly you wouldn't know it from watching the movie. In fact, the real driving force here is writer-and-star Seth Rogen playing slobbish Britt Reid, whose campaigning news mogul father (Tom Wilkinson) dies suddenly after a suspicious insect bite. Initially uninterested in his grand paternal legacy, Britt is stung into action by the inventive fighting skills of coffee-maker-cum-handyman Kato (likable Taiwanese pop sensation Jay Chou) and embarks upon a knockabout reign of clumsy crime-fighting vigilance, kept alive only by his super-agile sidekick.
The Green Hornet had been knocking around for a long time before the arrival of Gondry,...
There are few things more depressing than watching a genuinely inventive director being overpowered by the machinery of a franchise blockbuster. Take The Green Hornet (2010, Sony, 12), the long-gestating big-screen spin-off from the 30s radio serial and 60s TV show which is technically "Un Film de Michel Gondry" although frankly you wouldn't know it from watching the movie. In fact, the real driving force here is writer-and-star Seth Rogen playing slobbish Britt Reid, whose campaigning news mogul father (Tom Wilkinson) dies suddenly after a suspicious insect bite. Initially uninterested in his grand paternal legacy, Britt is stung into action by the inventive fighting skills of coffee-maker-cum-handyman Kato (likable Taiwanese pop sensation Jay Chou) and embarks upon a knockabout reign of clumsy crime-fighting vigilance, kept alive only by his super-agile sidekick.
The Green Hornet had been knocking around for a long time before the arrival of Gondry,...
- 4/30/2011
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Be among the first to see Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba's latest film at the Vue West End cinema in London's Leicester Square
Oscar®-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain's most famous and successful designer Javier Mariscal create a passionate animated love story. Trueba and Mariscal celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic story of love and heartbreak.
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. With an original soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist, bandleader and composer Bebo Valdés, Chico & Rita captures a definitive moment in the evolution of jazz music.
Oscar®-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain's most famous and successful designer Javier Mariscal create a passionate animated love story. Trueba and Mariscal celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic story of love and heartbreak.
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. With an original soundtrack by legendary Cuban pianist, bandleader and composer Bebo Valdés, Chico & Rita captures a definitive moment in the evolution of jazz music.
- 11/8/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
We’ve just been sent loads of brand new assets for new movie, Chico & Rita and every single one of them looks fabulous! It opens in the UK November 19th and is directed by Academy Award winning director, Fernando Trueba and animated by Javier Mariscal. If you like jazz, this one’s for you!
Read on to find out more and sroll down to watch the trailer.
Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain’s most successful designer Javier Mariscal’s new animated film Chico & Rita will open across the UK on 19 November, released by CinemaNX.
Trueba and Mariscal, close collaborators and friends for many years, celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic animated story of love and heartbreak, set against the colour and bustle of Havana, New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Paris in the late 1940s and early ’50s.
In Chico & Rita,...
Read on to find out more and sroll down to watch the trailer.
Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Spain’s most successful designer Javier Mariscal’s new animated film Chico & Rita will open across the UK on 19 November, released by CinemaNX.
Trueba and Mariscal, close collaborators and friends for many years, celebrate their passion for the music and culture of Cuba with an epic animated story of love and heartbreak, set against the colour and bustle of Havana, New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Paris in the late 1940s and early ’50s.
In Chico & Rita,...
- 10/4/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
As a student in Toronto and a lover of animated films, I attended a Tiff screening of Chico & Rita. The collaboration of Fernando Trueba, Oscar- winning director of Belle Époque, and Javier Mariscal, notable Spanish artist and designer, have created a visually stunning story of romance and music, truly capturing the 40′s and 50′s lifestyles present in Havana, New York, Las Vegas and Paris. I had no expectations of Chico & Rita as I had never seen a film by Trueba or artworks by Mariscal, but as I was watching it, I was completely blown away by its soundtrack and details in design.
Chico (Eman Xor Oña) is a talented piano player looking for a singer to accompany him. He meets Rita (Limara Meneses), a beautiful singer with a sultry voice. They meet in Havana in 1948, and the story shifts between different times and spaces. Chico and Rita are united by their love for music; however,...
Chico (Eman Xor Oña) is a talented piano player looking for a singer to accompany him. He meets Rita (Limara Meneses), a beautiful singer with a sultry voice. They meet in Havana in 1948, and the story shifts between different times and spaces. Chico and Rita are united by their love for music; however,...
- 9/23/2010
- by Minhee Bae
- The Film Stage
Announced on Tuesday, the Toronto Int. Film Festival has padded another four Spanish produced or co-produced titles to their 2010 edition. In the Contemporary World Cinema section, we have the International Premiere for Achero Mañas's Anything You Want aka Todo Lo Que Quieras. Mañas, a former actor, returns to fiction after directing the documentary “Blackwhite” in 2004, his latest film tells the story of how a lawyer (Juan Diego Botto from The Dancer Upstairs) undergoes an identity metamorphosis in order to please and secure the emotional stability of his daughter - this after the sudden death of her mother. In a recent interview for film magazine Fotogramas the director declared: "I talk about ambiguity. Of a change in the role of man that puts him in the most ambiguous and insecure place…" and "the change of the man in modern society, which I think is one of the most radical changes of the last years.
- 8/27/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.