Vereda Tropical
by Javier Torre
List Price:
Our Price: $26.99
You Save: $2.96 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $0.23 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alejandro Baratelli; Fabio Aste; Mim?? Ard??; Silvia Buarque; Gigi Rua; Laura Vagnoni; Laura ZaccaraDirector: Javier Torre
Brand: ARIZTICAL ENTERTAINMENT INC
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Original Language); English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-04-26
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Ariztical Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Vereda Tropical
Movie Review: A Glimpse into the Fascinating Life of Author Manuel Puig
Summary: 4 Stars
One of the most fascinating Latin American authors of the past century is Manuel Puig (1932 - 1990) and VEREDA TROPICAL, much like another similar author Reinaldo Arenas' mini-biography 'Before Night Falls', shows at least the last few years of his colorful life in Rio de Janeiro before he moved to Cuernavaca, Mexico where he died from a heart attack after surgery at the too young age of 57. It is a period piece, meant to capture some of the fantastical world about which Puig successfully wrote, and while it is not of documentary accuracy, the film has a flavor that is irresistibly reminiscent of Latin American 'magical realism'.
Manuel Puig was born in the pampas village of General Villegas, Argentina where his perception of the world was formed by a father who was brutish and a mother who was a victim, forcing Puig to find the preferable world of the movies as his preferred version of reality. To quote his biographer and translator Suzanne Jill Levine "...he saw that people around him were always acting, playing out roles imported from elsewhere-they all knew that they were copies, and they talked that tawdry, borrowed language, la cursiler?a personified. The men thought that they were acting out what is expected of men-a pitiful machismo, domesticated gaucho ethics. For the then child Manuel Puig, film was the only reality; after all, at least in the movie, everybody was supposed to be acting!".
The film, written and directed by Argentinean Javier Torre, confines his story to only a few years while Puig was exiled from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janiero, Brazil (much of Puig's life was spent in Europe and other places due to the mixed reception to his gay lifestyle in Buenos Aires). Puig (Fabio Aste) has already become famous for his 'Kiss of the Spider Woman', 'Heartbreak Tango', and other plays and novels and screenplays. He is comfortably ensconced in an expensive apartment and has glamorous friends like May (Gigi Rua), the flamboyant actress Kari Kerr (Mimi Ardu) as well as members of the intelligentsia like poet Nestor Perlongher (Alejandro Baratelli) and scholar Teresa (Silvia Buarque). He has a weekend lover, a married man who spends his time away from wife and children as Manuel's paramour, and otherwise spends his time with other Taxi Boys (Paulo Brunetti, et al) from whom he records dialogues for his racy novels.
Manuel lives under the fear that he may have AIDS and is encouraged by his friends to be tested. When he discovers he is negative for HIV, he becomes even more flamboyant in his appearance and behavior, not wanting to admit he is in his 50s and therefore unable to attract young men at the beaches and in bars. After a couple of disappointing encounters, both violent and simply pathetic, he decides to move to Cuernavaca, and it is this decision and its manifestations that form the ending of this tender film.
Fabio Aste gives a fine performance as Puig, unafraid to walk the narrow line of effeminacy and parody. Each of the female leads is outstanding - rich in character detail and able to convey how much Puig was loved by women. Torre fills the film with quips from old Rita Hayworth movies (one of Puig's first novels was 'Betrayed by Rita Hayworth'), showing how Puig was seemingly more at home in the magic of the silver screen than the gritty reality of life in the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The sexual scenes, both domestic and street, are done with restraint without losing dramatic impact.
The film is from Argentina and while it supposedly is in Spanish with English subtitles, there is a lot of Portuguese spoken (as one would expect in Rio de Janeiro) and the synchronization of the dialogue with the actors seems out of focus. There is also a lack of editing out background noise that at times covers the dialogue: the film does have the look of a low budget Indie. But given these minor flaws this remains a most entertaining and enlightening film, especially for those who love the works of Manuel Puig! Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, April 05
Summary of Vereda Tropical
Portuguese and Spanish with English subtitles. "Kiss of the Spider Woman" author Manuel Puig's life was mounting with controversy when he was exiled to Brazil from his home country of Argentina. Manuel's life in Rio de Janeiro was very private and vibrant; a life filled with new adventures, playful love affairs, scandalous romances and of course, his prolific writing. Eventually it all had to end when he had to make the painful decision to move to Mexico, where his final days were spent. This new film by Director Javier Torre stars Mimi Ardu & Fabio Aste and won "Best Director" and "Best Actor" at the Gramado International Films Festival.Art House & International DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Art House & International DVD Video
The Ultimate GiftTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-08-21; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Widescreen Edition)CURRY,TIM; Release date: 2002-09-03; DVD
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Limited EditionRelease date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $23.98
Price in other shops:
Shaun of the DeadPEGG,SIMON; Release date: 2004-12-21; DVD
Best price: $4.79
Price in other shops:
The WitchesRelease date: 1999-06-22; DVD
Best price: $4.02
Price in other shops:
Pride & PrejudiceUNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2006-02-28; DVD
Best price: $6.81
Price in other shops:
No Country for Old MenRelease date: 2008-03-11; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops:
The Forbidden KingdomFORBIDDEN KINGDOM, THE (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops:
Prison Break - Season 3TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2008-08-12; DVD
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops:
Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)A&E; Release date: 2001-09-25; DVD
Best price: $19.57
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
Coffee DateRelease date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $7.24
Price in other shops:
Dante's Cove - Season 3WELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2008-06-03; DVD
Best price: $15.79
Price in other shops:
Back SoonTLA RELEASING; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $10.53
Price in other shops:
The HouseboyTLA RELEASING; Release date: 2008-07-29; DVD
Best price: $11.58
Price in other shops:
Smokers OnlyRelease date: 2003-04-29; DVD
Best price: $11.19
Price in other shops:
East Side StoryEAST SIDE STORY (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2007-12-04; DVD
Best price: $15.35
Price in other shops:
In The BloodTLA RELEASING; Release date: 2008-04-29; DVD
Best price: $10.32
Price in other shops:
Eleven Men OutWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2008-03-04; DVD
Best price: $13.42
Price in other shops:
Rock HavenTLA RELEASING; Release date: 2007-11-06; DVD
Best price: $10.32
Price in other shops:
ShelterWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $13.15
Price in other shops: