EL CANTANTE
US, 2006, 116 minutes, Colour.
Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez.
Directed by Leon Ichaso.
The singer in question is Puerto Rican born Henry Lavoe who is credited as being a driving force behind Salsa and its popularity in the US.
Interest in this portrait will depend on the audience’s interest in Salsa and Latin American music because, without it, the story is the familiar one of young man gets an opportunity, makes good, becomes famous and well-loved, marries a strong-minded woman, is unfaithful, becomes drug-dependent, suffers family losses and contracts a life-terminating illness. While the structure of the film has the plot going backwards and forwards, it really doesn’t make the story any more captivating. The framework, however, in black and white, is a reconstruction of a long filmed conversation in 2002, a decade after Lavoe’s death, with his wife, who tells her side of the story and her staying with him for more than twenty years despite everything.
The curiosity angle of the film is that it stars real-life husband and wife, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Jennifer Lopez is always an intense screen personality and is so here, especially in the moody interview sequences which drive the film along. Marc Anthony brings his singing talent and some exuberance to the frequent rendition of the songs. The film does evoke the 1970s and 1980s in New York City – and some of the darker aspects of that period.
In 2001, director Leon Ichaso made an interesting biography, Pinero, of Latin American playwright, poet, actor Miguel Pinero which is much more telling and powerful than this subject and treatment.
1.Audience knowledge of Henry Lavoe? Of salsa and Latin American music?
2.The film as a biography of Lavoe, Puchi’s version of the story? The flashbacks? Henry and his origins, his talent, discovery, promotion, singing, marrying, his world, fame, drugs, his son, the visits to his family in Puerto Rico, illness, son’s death, collapse?
3.The black and white framework, Puchi’s story? The reconstruction of the interview in 2002? Her memories, her passion, her version – true or not?
4.The New York settings, dark, the music, music publishing, concerts, fans? The world of parties and clubs? Homes, wealth? Drugs?
5.Puerto Rico, Lavoe’s origins, his original name? The change? His later visit, the clash with his father? No reconciliation?
6.Marc Anthony and his screen presence, performance, singing? The young Henry, his name, his emerging talent, recognised, in the US, New York City, the entrepreneurs, the songs, the members of the band, his friendship, going into drugs? His life and vitality? Seeing Puchi, dancing with her, their being together, partners for twenty years? Drugs and the effect on his life? His womanising? The birth of his son, absence from his son, the visits? Puchi and her pursuit of him, her confrontations with him? The effect of the death of his son? The funeral? His being haunted by the past? Suffering from AIDS? His illness and death? His character?
7.The songs, performance, the vitality of salsa? Songs, dancing?
8.Puchi and the flashbacks, her character, her life, love for Henry, staying with him, her jealousy, making him jealous, her love for her son, the home scenes, his going out, the news of his death?
9.The son and his father, the visits, going out together?
10.The publisher, his world, shrewdness, promotion of the songs and records? The demands on Henry, his being late for gigs, his turning up?
11.The members of the band, the variety of characters, support, enthusiasm?
12.The death of his father, the deaths of other relations, his son’s death, his depression and final years?
13.A record of this salsa world of the 60s to the 90s?
