MARIA NOVARO

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB.5

Mexico/Spain, 1991.  Fondo de Fomento a la Calidad Cinematográfica, Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz, Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía, Macondo Cine Video, Tabasco Films, Televisión Española.  Screenplay by Beatriz Novaro, Maria Novaro.  Cinematography by Rodrigo Garcia.  Produced by Jorge Sanchez.  Music by Pepe Luis, Felipe Pérez.  Production Design by Marisa Pecanins, Norberto Sanchez.   Costume Design by Monica Neumeier, Sergio S. Stephano.  Film Editing by Sigfrido Barjau, Maria Novaro, Nelson Rodriguez. 

A bored Mexico City telephone operator gets her only respite from her dull, daily existence by going once a week to a dance hall to enact the steps of the danzon with her regular dancing partner Carmelo. When he doesn’t show up one night, she convinces herself that he’s in trouble and decides to find him, traveling to Vera Cruz because the only thing she knows about him is that his brother lives there.  Her search is unsuccessful almost from the start, but she manages to meet a new set of friends, has a muted romance with a dock worker and ends up finding a sense of personal fulfillment in a town that has as many colourful delights as it does seedy neighbourhoods.  This pure delight is sort of a modern version of David Lean’s Summertime with a wonderful Maria Rojo in the lead, enhanced by a rich soundtrack.