Vengo [DVD]

nothing to dislike. This should be canon

What a story, the movie shows the viewer a way of life that most do not realize it exist, where everything is personal, even the killing is personal, not with a gun from afar or from a passing car but with a knife so that you are close to the intended target and he knows it. The movie its a beautiful roller coaster of emotions, the people are beautiful, the music its beautiful, and the scenery its also beautiful. The film will be in your thoughts for a while, and every now and then and when you least expect it you will go.....out of the blue...aha! now I know why this happen! it is a powerful story in which you are only given snippets but they are enough to figure out what going on.................so grab a glass of your favorite wine and enjoy!!!

Love the movie plot the music was really good. Enjoyed it

I am just a Gringo with some buried Gitano genes who took a while watching the beginning of the movie on what was really going on. But then, I was went with the flow of emotion and passion that was emoted --and enjoyed it more rather than trying to analyze-- I had a hard time reading the credits and would like to know specifically where the filming was done in Southern Spain--Jerez area? What was the river? and the party boat looked like it was moored at seaside? Also, who sang the beautiful ballad/song at the end of the movie--very haunting

I like flamenco by itself and prefer it not to be woven around some kind of "story." I know this is a really politically incorrect thing to say, but I don't like films that feature people who are severly disfigured to the point where their body, motor skills, and speech are greatly impaired. To make matters worse, there's a scene where this disabled person is introduced to a beautiful prostitute for the purpose of having an "assignation." While they didn't actually show anything, I find this sort of thing to be utterly distasteful and I don't see how it adds to any film. In fact, I couldn't even finish watching this film, let alone my dinner because I lost my appetite.I purchased the film, "Latcho Drom," another film by Tony Gatlif, which I loved, but I definitely wouldn't recommend "Vengo" to anyone. If you want to see flamenco, there others to choose from. Anyway, I'm sorry I purchased this.

Very few movies can truly demonstrate the beauty and sounds of the art of Flamenco. Vengo is a marvelous portrayal of real Spanish Flamenco (Estilo Gitano).

Le di las cinco estrellas porque tratan a varios temas con sensibilidad. Los actors son buenos, la música es un encanto, y la dirección es fenomenal.

I lived in a small village in Andalucia for many years. I am very grateful that I can appreciate this film for what it is, a visual love poem to the place, people and passions of the region as Gatlif's previous film Latcho Drom was to all of Roma culture. Gatlif pays meticulous attention to every detail of how flamenco music and its people infuse and help define everyday Spanish life to this day. It begins with a remarkable homage to flamenco's Muslim heritage featuring a living flamenco legend, Tomatito. Although much is lost in the translation of the subtitles, lovers of a simpler, truly family-centered life will treasure poignant, visually satisfying vignettes of modern Spanish village life. An entire family living together and lovingly caring for a disabled family member. Gathering pomegranates together. The enormous paella outside cooking to serve 50 family members at a christening. People greeting one another as they get on the bus (this scene is from the heartbreakingly delightful short on the DVD which takes place in the sun-parched, narrow city streets of Almeria's gypsy neighborhood.). The cemetery rituals. The painted shutters and lace curtains on the windows. The family's widows - harvesting olives, whitewashing graffiti off the village walls, cleaning up after the previous nights' flamenco party. And the spontaneous outbursts of clapping, singing and dancing that occur anywhere - in the street, under a tree, on the bus. These are all scenes still visible every day; they were not staged for a movie.The melodrama in this film is no different from the polite, socially acceptable melodramas that play out every day in our own society; reputations, families, relationships are destroyed in a very refined, sanitary, occult manner. The Spanish, and the gypsies in particular, have no concern for such posturing and show what is in their heart for all to see, even if it is the darkest pangs of human emotions. From this comes the unequaled, boundless complexity and depth of flamenco.I have been very fortunate to study flamenco with an Andalucian gypsy who grew up with and learned from Spain's greatest flamenco artists, among them her most beloved dancer, Carmen Amaya. To understand this film, flamenco, and Spain, one must abandon all attempts to understand it and allow the duende - the spirit of flamenco - possess one's senses and one's soul. Flamenco is not contrived enough to worry itself about a theme, a story line or impressing an audience. It arises from a place deep within the soul that most of us keep carefully guarded and shut off. That Gatlif has exposed it, once again, for us to experience I'm certain is success enough for him.

Not the most complex of plots. However I purchased this for the flamenco elelement and there are some great performances on here. Some really great images of Spain as well.

Read carefully to avoid films with subtitles you don't understand! But I loved it even despite understanding neither Spanish nor Dutch. It arrived in mint condition on time. A challenge when looking for films by the eminent Tony Gatlif, is that they rarely have English subtitles. At least I am having trouble finding them. ..

Great film. really enjoyed it.

Very good.

Fantastic film.