REVIEW: Venezuelan Film Festival in New York explores unique issues of this South American country
The Venezuelan Film Festival in New York has kicked off at Village East Cinemas and Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen in New York City. The celebration of films, both fictional dramas and documentaries, comes at an interesting time for the country. Venezuela, according to news reports, is facing immense challenges and an unfortunate reality of poverty and economic crisis.
The movies assembled for this year’s film festival touch upon a variety of issues and individuals, cutting across cultures and genres. In a roundabout way, many of them deal with the current situation in the country.
Barrio Vertical (Vertical Slum) is a 50-minute feature that looks at the community of residents at a notorious high-rise in Caracas, capital of Venezuela. The Confinanzas Tower, known as the Torre David, was a high-profile addition to the skyline of the city, but after the initial dream went unrealized, the unfinished building became a block of apartments for locals seeking a better allotment in life.
Within the confines of this tower, a real sense of community existed, and director Irene Sosa rightfully talks to several academics who understand neighborhood development, urbanization and the issues facing Venezuela today. Within this community are residents tasked with ensuring security and garbage cleanup, and how they work together, even when faced with setbacks, makes for an interesting documentary. After a few years, the residents start seeing Torre David as their home, even if the building proves to be a difficult place to live. The water, for example, has to go through an extensive system in order to reach the top floors.
The film is not perfect. Perhaps the small budget didn’t allow for better images (in particular a closeup of a map as an establishing shot of Venezuela); however, the access to the residents of Torre David is spot on. Although the academic voices are appreciated, the narrative is driven by those residents who are greatly affected by the government’s policies and the inevitable changes that come to their new home.
One of the most celebrated Venezuelan films of the past few years will also play the festival. From Afar, which played earlier this year at the Film Forum, stars Alfredo Castro and Luis Silva as two romantic partners who have a relationship that borders on passion and violence. The film was the country’s choice for the Oscars and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
When the movie played New York earlier in the summer, director Lorenzo Vigas spoke with Hollywood Soapbox. Click here for that story.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Click here for more information on this year’s Venezuelan Film Festival in New York. Barrio Vertical (Vertical Slum) (2016), directed by Irene Sosa, runs 50 minutes. Rating: 
