Chavela

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Chavela

Released Oct 4, 2017

1h 31m

Documentary

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

The life of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, who gains worldwide fame for her beauty and charm and her interpretation of traditional ranchera.

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Critics Consensus

Chavela pays affecting tribute to its subject with an absorbing documentary that outlines her remarkable life while effectively communicating the power and lingering impact of her art.

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Raquel Breternitz

Autostraddle

It is this strength and beauty that drew people to her, and it is the heart of the documentary.

Aug 17, 2021

Full Review

Bedatri D. Choudhury

Bitch Media

Watching Chavela Vargas sing is like watching rain clouds gather against a hill; she appears onstage, takes to the mic, and sings in her husky tenor. The pain in her songs plays out through the twitch of an eyebrow...

Jan 8, 2019

Full Review

Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

The late Chavela Vargas, a sad and fiery legend of Latin American song, is the subject of an adoring portrait as straightforward as its title, Chavela.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 8, 2017

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

An encompassing portrait...

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Gisela Savdie

El Heraldo

The testimonies are as powerful as her songs, showing how the stage was the only place where she could really express herself [Full Review in Spanish]

Nov 8, 2020

Full Review

Lisa Trifone

Third Coast Review

Its the filmmakers' access to her and the people most important to her that make Chavela the film an intimate, thoughtful portrait of a life well lived, a touching homage to a legend that can-and does-hold her own next to [Edith] Piaf any day.

May 28, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

The story of a machismo fueled stubborn lesbian singer.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Documental hermoso, bien hecho, sencillo, a lo que va. La vida del "SeÃ±ora", de Chavela, la lesbiana alcohÃ³lica que cambiÃ³ la vida de tantas personas y que abriÃ³ la senda para muchas que venÃan detrÃ¡s de ella. Amante de Frida, amante del tequila, amiga de la noche y la bohemia, de Jose Alfredo Jimenez, de Gabo, de Monsivais, de Fuentes, de Picasso, de AlmodÃ³var, de Bosï¿ 1/2 1/2 (C), de todos. A sus 60 resucita, libre de los demonios del alcohol y termina de conquistar las emociones de millones de hispanoparlantes. A los 80 se lanza en paracaÃdas, como un sÃmbolo de lo que fue su vida y termina a los 93 como una reina en el DF, la ciudad que la hizo, como ella decÃa, una macha remacha.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This documentary highlights the life of Chavela Vargas, who became a sensation in Mexico in the fifties. She was a proud woman lesbian and her story is told with care.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

first of all she wasn't Mexican. you people should read background of her history. she got fame in the famous country and went to the big time after something happened with her life with certain people. this film was good to know about her life and how she got what she wanted, it is a well established part of her speaking about how it all came together with the music.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/18

Full Review

Audience Member

While poignant and heart-wrenching bio, it is a veritable treasure trove of "la canción mexicana".... (the music of Mexico).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I hadn't heard of Chavela before seeing this film, but afterwards I felt like a lifelong fan. The filmmakers pay a phenomenal tribute to to an under appreciated legend who was WAY ahead of her time. A must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Catherine Gund

Director

Daresha Kyi

Director

Pedro Almodóvar

Self

Catherine Gund

Producer

Daresha Kyi

Producer

Lynda Weinman

Executive Producer

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Chavela: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

The life of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, who gains worldwide fame for her beauty and charm and her interpretation of traditional ranchera.

Director: Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi
Producer: Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi
Distributor: Music Box Films
Production Co: Aubin Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 2, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $142.4K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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