Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Documentary > Music > Latino > Roots Of Music set (Cajun/Tex-Mex)

Les Blank/Chris Strachwitz “Roots” Music series

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B-     Films: B

 

 

Two DVDs from Brazos Films offer very authentic and inarguable looks at two sets of lesser-heard and known music genres.  Jai Eté Au Bal (I Went To The Dance, 1989) deals with the origins of both Cajun & Zydeco music, while Chulas Fronteras (Beautiful Borders, 1979) and Del Mero Corazon (Straight From the Heart, 1994) are two shorter films on one DVD that deals with Tex-Mex and its beginnings.  Instead of the outright readerly documentary we are used to, footage is not quite as linear or “voice of God”.  There are advantages and disadvantages to that, but it might be hard at first for viewers to get the hang of.

 

The films are exceptionally nuanced, packed with rare piece after rare piece.  This is a very important, vital set of films about the kind of music that always runs the risk of being lost or even forgotten.  The filmmakers have forged an excellent record of where Cajun (a sort of French-influenced Country/Folk), Zydeco (French-influenced Blues), Tex-Mex and Norteno (Chicano/Latino) genres.  We also hear about Polka and its German origins affected the music and it growth.  This is so painstakingly done as to be remarkable.  I wish more music genres got such thorough treatment.

 

Directors Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz (joined by Maureen Gosling on Jai Eté) are very thorough in covering al the angles and talking to as many of the people as they can to have a permanent record of all the history and connections that make that history and this music possible.  The approach can be disorienting at first, but it works, even if you turn out not to like the genres discussed.  They also participate in all the audio commentaries that appear on every film.  Other extras on each DVD include a 30-minutes-long “Lost & Found” section, why the films were made, reviews and honors, stills, detailed scene information, and text on the directors.  Usually, scene selection is listed erroneously as an extra, but it actually applies here, where each chapter has a few sentences of explanation and an illustration.  That may take up more room and require more text frames, also making it harder to locate chapters, but this works far better in the long run for the kind of valuable material on both DVDs.

 

All films are full frame 1.33 X 1 filmed program with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, which is simple stereo at best, but usually monophonic.  They are above average overall, but show their age a bit, though the newer materials look a bit better.  Both DVDs are worth catching and even collecting.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com