El ángel del acordeon film review

Title: El Angel del Acordeon (The Angel of the Accordion)
Director: 
Genre: Drama
Country of Origin: Colombia 
Year: 2008
Rating: None
Time: 97 minutes 
Grade: ★★ 1/2


El Angel de Acordeon is a 2008 Colombian film starring Cesar Navarro, Carlos Arturo Buelvas, and Stephania Borge. The film tells the story of young Poncho, a love struck boy who is passionate about the accordion and uses his talent to win the girl of his dreams and become the "King of Vallenato". 

One of the most beautiful elements of the film is the music of the film. Vallenato is the folk music of Colombia and one of the music genre that is well known from Colombia. One of the main instruments in vallenato is the accordion which is the main symbol of the film. Throughout the film, vallenato is played by characters and is part of the soundtrack as well. In the film itself, vallenato is seen as magic, able to make chickens lay eggs and bring joy and love to the people of Colombia. Here comes Poncho, a young boy who has his own problems with his family and finds his happiness in vallenato music and his crush, the beautiful Sara Maria. 

However, despite the musical beauty the film has some flaws. Filled with cliches and an obvious Deux Ex Machina make the film difficult to believe that the protagonist could triumph on his own. For those familiar with Spanish novelas, you'll know that it's filled with over dramatic characters as well as an incredibly short time skip that leaves the viewers confused. The plot could have gone much further but leaves this viewer unsatisfied. If you do want to see it for yourself, give it a good view and you might enjoy it as a long music video. 

Trailer: 

Diarios de Motocicleta film review

Title: Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries)
Director: Walter Salles
Genre: Bio-pic
Country of Origin: Argentina
Year: 2004
Rating: R
Time: 126 minutes
Grade: ★★★

Diarios de Motocicleta is the 2004 Argentinian autobiographical film directed by Walter Salles. Starring Gael García Bernal as the famous revolutionary Che Guevara, the film covers the journey he takes all over South America that changes him from a medical student to a guerilla fighter.

Starting from when Che Guevara was simply Ernesto Guevara, a young medical student from Argentina, the film takes on the classic trope of self-discovery through a road trip but becomes less cliché when you realize this autobiographical. Based on Guevara’s own memoir, you’re taken into a journey that opens Guevara from his privileged life to the struggles that many South Americans faced during the 1950’s in a time of communism, dictatorship and poverty.

If you’re a fan of biopics or if you’re interested in Che Guevara himself, this film is definitely for you. However, it’s slow paced and not much action is included so for those who dislike biopics or action-less films, avoid it then. It’s a film that you will either hate or love, it all depends on your preference for films. For those interesting in expanding their minds, check it out on Netflix.

Trailer: