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Chavela

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for Chavela Released Oct 4, 2017 1h 31m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 40 Reviews 79% 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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Chavela

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 "Señora", de Chavela, la lesbiana alcohólica que cambió la vida de tantas personas y que abrió la senda para muchas que venían detrás 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 Almodóvar, 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 paracaídas, como un símbolo de lo que fue su vida y termina a los 93 como una reina en el DF, la ciudad que la hizo, como ella decía, 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 Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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

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Chavela

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Movie Info

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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