VIVO
US, 2021, 95 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, Brian Tyree Henry, Gloria Estefan, Michael Rooker.
Directed by Kirk DiMicco, Brendan Jeffords.
Looking for something colourful and bright, Latin American music, rhythms and beats? Looking for a animation film that might intrigue the children and gives an entertainment for adults? Perhaps Vivo is the answer.
It is definitely very colourful. The setting is Cuba, the city of Havana, details of the city, especially the public squares where an old man, Andres, sings and plays, people gathering to listen, and he opens his trolley and what happens?… Vivo emerges.
The important credit for the film is that the songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda who sings all of Vivo’s songs. Lin-Manuel Miranda has made quite a name for himself over the last 15 years, the staging of his New York musical, In the Heights, released as a film in 2021, but, most famous, for the stage success of his American history musical, Hamilton, and its being filmed for television and streaming release. Miranda is a recitative style in the lyrics is certainly to the fore here, lively, rhythmic, a strong beat.
Vivo is certainly a cartoon character. The notes explained that he is a kinkajou - which will baffle most of us until we hear that this is the name for a one-of-a-kind forest honey bear. He is small, obviously cuddly if he slowed down, but he sings, dances, enchants the people (who put money in the hat as it is passed around).
Amongst those who watch is Rosa and her daughter, Rose, who will later form a partnership with Vivo in song and performance.
There is a serious plotline as well. Andrew is used to perform with Marta, long ago, but she departed for Florida and they have been long separated. News comes with Marta in Florida and the hope that Andrews might go there and sing with her. That is not to be and so vivo become something of an ambassador for under is, with a letter that he wrote way back when.
Marta (voiced by Gloria Estefan) is older, has been successful, is a noted singer. Vivo goes on his mission to Florida. But, since this is a happy, lively show, there is a happy ending.
- Popular animated musical entertainment – for younger audiences, older audiences?
- The work of Lin- Manuel Miranda, songs, lyrics, lively, Latin American tones?
- The Cuban settings, the city of Havana, the neighbourhoods, the public spaces? The comparisons with Florida, the cities, music, performance?
- The range of songs, the lyrics, the rhythms, the beats? Revealing characters? Revealing situations? Emotional content and impact?
- The visual style of the animation, colourful, humans, animals, situation? The voice talent?
- The title, Vivo, as a kinkajou, a forest honey bear, one-of-a-kind? Appearance, size, voice, dancing talent, singing talent? The friendship with Andres, the buildup to the revelation, Vivo in the cage, emerging, singing and dancing, And Rosa playing, verve, collecting the money, people’s response? The range of characters in the city, the response to the music?
- Rosa, her little daughter, appearance, response to the music, friendship with Vivo?
- Andres, his story, his love for Marta, the news from Florida, his memories of the past, the flashbacks, her singing, their being young, dancing together, his being dashing? The memories of her leaving, her invitation to him, his being unable to go? The years of regrets?
- Vivo, the message for Marta, going to Florida, encountering her, her age, her singing, popularity, the news about and Rose?
- Vivo and his return, his teaming with Gabi, their singing and dancing, the exhilaration, the crowds?
- Marta, her return to Florida, joining in the exhilaration?
