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Cinema Puerto Rico: Una antropología visual is a documentary that chronicles the story of Puerto Rican cinema from its inception back in the late 19th Century. Through a series of interviews with directors, cinephiles, critics, and anthropologists, directors Freddie Rodríguez and Mariel Marrero try to trace the journey of our film industry, but also the reasons why it hasn't flourished.
The above is one of the reasons presented by one of the interviewees, a young filmmaker called Eduardo Rosado. And when you look at the trajectory, you can't help but agree. Even though cinema has been present here since its birth, its development in the island has sputtered because of lack of vision, economical issues, but also political maneuverings.
These factors hasn't allowed for the establishment of a strong industry, leaving filmmakers to fend for themselves as they try to follow their passions and make their art. And despite all these struggles, what one can see in the documentary is that we have still managed to amass a very diverse catalog of Puerto Rican films that ranges from romance and dramas to action and comedy, and everything in between.
As a cinephile myself, and someone who more or less knew about some of the history of our cinema, I was still surprised by the breadth and scope of what has been produced here. Certainly not as much as we could've if there was that continuity, but still much more than I thought, and I suppose way more than the regular Puerto Rican viewer knows about. As the proud Puerto Rican that I am, I can only hope that we can put that continuity in motion so we can find our voice in the worldwide film industry.
Grade:
CINEMA PUERTO RICO
UNA ANTROPOLOGÍA VISUAL
(2014, Rodríguez & Marrero)
A film from the 2010s
UNA ANTROPOLOGÍA VISUAL
(2014, Rodríguez & Marrero)
A film from the 2010s
"There's a determining factor: continuity, which allows for people both in front and behind the camera – like actors, crew members, directors – to form themselves and create their own styles and define themselves."
Cinema Puerto Rico: Una antropología visual is a documentary that chronicles the story of Puerto Rican cinema from its inception back in the late 19th Century. Through a series of interviews with directors, cinephiles, critics, and anthropologists, directors Freddie Rodríguez and Mariel Marrero try to trace the journey of our film industry, but also the reasons why it hasn't flourished.
The above is one of the reasons presented by one of the interviewees, a young filmmaker called Eduardo Rosado. And when you look at the trajectory, you can't help but agree. Even though cinema has been present here since its birth, its development in the island has sputtered because of lack of vision, economical issues, but also political maneuverings.
These factors hasn't allowed for the establishment of a strong industry, leaving filmmakers to fend for themselves as they try to follow their passions and make their art. And despite all these struggles, what one can see in the documentary is that we have still managed to amass a very diverse catalog of Puerto Rican films that ranges from romance and dramas to action and comedy, and everything in between.
As a cinephile myself, and someone who more or less knew about some of the history of our cinema, I was still surprised by the breadth and scope of what has been produced here. Certainly not as much as we could've if there was that continuity, but still much more than I thought, and I suppose way more than the regular Puerto Rican viewer knows about. As the proud Puerto Rican that I am, I can only hope that we can put that continuity in motion so we can find our voice in the worldwide film industry.
Grade: