#REVIEW Unobstructed View Inc.’s VIVA
VIVA, artistically directed by Paddy Breathnach, is a deeply moving dramatic film of a young gay man coming to terms with an abusive father and who is trying to make a life for himself in a macho, homophobic society. It is beautifully acted with incredibly moving performances by all the leads and supporting actors.
VIVA is a story of a young man who finds his dreams of becoming a drag queen performer dashed when circumstances work against him. Hector Medina who plays Jesus gives a gut wrenching and an exquisite performance of a decent, vulnerable androgynous looking young man who is barely eking out an existence working as a hairdresser in the city of Havana, Cuba. While doing Nita’s hair (played by Paula Ali), we learn some of his back story. He is on his own. There’s an absent father and both his mother and grandmother have died. When one of the drag queens who performs at the Palermo Cabaret, runs off with Mama’s wigs, Jesus grabs at the opportunity to audition for the vacancy left by Celeste. Mama is wonderfully acted by Luis Alberto Garcia who gives a stellar performance of the sincere middle-aged drag queen with a heart of gold.
Although he shows promise, Jesus as Viva has a lot to learn like tucking in his private parts and not holding back on his performances. Just when things are looking up for Jesus, he is brutally re-introduced to his father during one of his drag queen performances. Jesus’s dreams of becoming a drag queen performer are dashed when his father forbids him to perform and Mama decides too that she can’t risk it either because she is worried of the trouble Jesus’s father would make for the club.
Jorge Perugorria who plays Angel Gutierrez, Jesus’s father, gives an excellent performance of the bitter delusional angry macho alcoholic father who imposes himself on his son and usurps his life. Jesus begrudgingly puts up with his father’s presence, his violent and obnoxious behaviour and tries to be a good son. He cuts his father’s hair, cooks for him and accompanies him to the boxing club. Frustrated at his situation, Jesus lies to Mama about his father having had a change of heart and he is allowed to perform again in the club one day a week. But still without a steady source of income and living hand to mouth and taking on the responsibility of caring for his father, Jesus reluctantly turns to tricking to earn money to support themselves. Jesus confides in Mama and tells him that he is selling himself. In one of the many dramatic moments in the film which brought tears to my eyes, Mama confronts Angel at Jesus’s apartment and offers Jesus a way out. In one of those unexplainable things, Jesus stays with his father who later reveals to his son that he is dying. A highlight of the film is watching the relationship between Jesus and his father unfold as they learn despite their differences to love each other.
I love melodramas and VIVA hits all the high notes of a melodrama and reminds me of the Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s especially the films of master filmmaker Douglas Sirk. The narrative is gripping and the dramatic tension doesn’t let up culminating in an incredible drag queen performance of Jesus as Viva with his father in the audience. I was also moved by the compassion and camaraderie of the drag queens, their bantering and wit. I would like to single out Mark O’Halloran for his brilliant and deeply moving script. I also particularly liked the cut aways of Havana, Cuba which situated the story in a cultural context and gave the film depth and character.
VIVA is a beautifully acted film that merits your attention. It is essentially a film that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit and the desire to be true to oneself. Do see it for you won’t be disappointed.
Watch the trailer for VIVA below!
Unobstructed Views Inc. and Magnolia Pictures will release VIVA in Toronto (Cineplex Varsity & VIP), Vancouver (VanCity) and Saskatoon (Broadway Theatre) on April 29; Calgary (The Globe) on May 13; Ottawa (ByTowne) on May 19 and Montreal (Cinema du Parc) on May 20.
[Photos by Magnolia Pictures]