Violeta Went to Heaven

Released Mar 29, 2013

1h 50m

Biography

History

Drama

List

73%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Chile's Violeta Parra (Francisca Gavilán) rises from poverty to become a celebrated and influential musician, poet and activist.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

The formulaic storytelling has the unfortunate effect of making her extraordinary story feel familiar, though Wood's impressionistic style is a refreshing antidote to the portentousness one comes to expect from movies like this.

Apr 25, 2013

Full Review

Sheri Linden

Los Angeles Times

With its clarity and depth, Gavilan's singing is as good as her acting.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 18, 2013

Full Review

Diego Semerene

Slant Magazine

Suffers from an overtly conventional way of depicting the life events of an anything-but-conventional woman, a lazy flaw further highlighted by its brief moments of visual experimentation.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 29, 2013

Full Review

Donald J. Levit

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

The great draw here is theater, television and film actress Francisca Gaviln's performance as the conflicted, lonely multi-talent.

Mar 28, 2013

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A well-acted and well-directed musical biodrama about the life and career of the Chilean singer and songwriter Viola Parra.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 20, 2013

Full Review

Shaun Munro

What Culture

More enjoyable as an exploration of Parra's music than her life, and well-performed by lead Francisca Gaviln.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 21, 2012

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walter m

"Violeta Went to Heaven" is an expressive biopic about the life and music of Violeta Parra(Francisca Gavilan), a beloved and renowned folk singer in her native Chile. Like many minority artists, the wealthy enjoyed listening to her music before banishing her to the kitchen. She would also have some of her artwork shown in the Louvre. Framed by a television interview that is more interested in her political leanings than anything else, especially if she is a Communist(she performed in then Communist Poland and was friends with Pablo Neruda), the movie is just as interested in the divisions in her life, starting with her being of mixed heritage.(At one point, Violeta says that she wishes she were entirely of Indian heritage.) After briefly exploring Violeta's origins in poverty, the movie jumps ahead to her tumultuous second marriage to Gilbert Favre(Thomas Durand).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Musically interesting, a good lyricist. Film editing and script are different but grow on you. Photography is good, esp with faces. The story is somber, gets darker, ends well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nunca he sido fanático del cine de Andrés Wood, y Violeta es su proyecto que menos me convence. Contando la historia de la artista integral chilena Violeta Parra, nos muestra el esfuerzo de la chilena por recuperar nuestras raíces y hacer trascender nuestro arte, demostrando que todos podemos ser artistas si así lo queremos. Quizás es el enfoque de Wood el que no me gusta, pero para opinar tienen que verla.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Violeta, an early compiler and performer of traditional Chilean folk music, is played by an actress and singer who convincingly channels her rebellious spirit.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Aunque muchos consideraron esta película como un retrato nefasto de Violeta, me pareció una representación muy justa de quien fue Violeta. Las escenas de la película están llenas de simbolismos ricos que permiten muchas interpretaciones sobre la vida emocional de la artista y de su valentía de vivir y sentir hasta las más profundas consecuencias. Me encanto ver cuan fecunda era Violeta, la vastedad de su capacidad creadora, y me gustó aún más que retrataran con igual ímpetu tanto su algarabía como su profundo dolor, aunque no sea placentero presenciarlo. De camino a tocar con su hermana en el desierto, Violeta ensayaba una canción melancólica, cuando su hermana le pide que toque algo más alegre, que la gente no quiere escuchar esas melodías tan lúgubres, a lo cual Violeta responde "Que las escuchen no más, que la vida no es una fiesta".

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An extraordinary film about an extraordinary artist. Her music is beautiful, and I am grateful to those who made this film because Violeta's is a story that needed to be told! Bravo!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

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Andrés Wood

Director

Francisca Gavilán

Violeta Parra

Thomas Durand

Gilbert Favre

Christian Quevedo

Nicanor

Patricio Ossa

Niño Ángel Parra

Luis Machín

Entrevistador

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Synopsis

Chile's Violeta Parra (Francisca Gavilán) rises from poverty to become a celebrated and influential musician, poet and activist.

Director: Andrés Wood
Producer: Patricio Pereira, Pablo Rovito, Fernando Sokolowicz, Paula Cosenza, Denise Gomes
Screenwriter: Eliseo Altunaga, Rodrigo Bazaes, Guillermo Calderón, Andrés Wood
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: ANCINE/Ministério da Cultura, Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual, Instituto Nacional de Cine y Artes Audiovisuales (INCAA)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.3K
Runtime: 1h 50m

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