Product Description

Studio: Repnet Llc Release Date: 05/06/2008 Run time: 98 minutes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51771 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-05-27
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
• Original language: Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 98 minutes

Review
Absorbing exquisitely suspenseful. --Justin Chang, Variety

Review
One of the most amazing Mexican films in many a year... In The Violin lies the future of Mexican cinema. --Guillermo del Toro

Review
The Violin's humble subjects are ennobled with chiaroscuro, and their passion is played out in disturbingly beautiful settings The Violin is a movie of undeniable gravitas and monumentality. --J Hoberman Village Voice

Customer Reviews

peasant music v. the government military
Don Plutarco Hidalgo is an aging and illiterate peasant farmer, but he still plays the violin with his one good hand. His son plays the guitar and his grandson collects the spare change as they play in restaurants and bars, then sleep on the streets at night. But their real passion is the guerilla movement of other peasants who are resisting the oppressive government. When the army raids, loots and torches their little village, the guerilla movement is stranded in the dense mountain jungles without their cache of weapons. Plutarco borrows a mule and returns to their village, telling the occupying soldiers that he wants to check his crops. At his age, he's able to convince the soldiers, and the commander takes a shine to Plutarco's violin playing. I won't spoil just where that violin takes this powerful film about oppression and liberation, only to say that as the film itself demonstrates, it's the stuff of multi-generational songs sung at peasant campfires. Filmed in black and white, in Spanish with English sub-titles.

One of the Most Amazing Films
Extremely compelling film about an old farmer, Plutarco, and his violin. Joined by his son and grandson, Plutarco travels the countryside playing his music to earn money. When the military takes over the village and prevents Plutarco from returning home, Plutarco strikes up a friendship with the army commander, hoping to charm his way back into the village. Plutarco must return to the village because of a secret he has hidden there.

"The Violin" has become the most awarded Mexican film in history. A must see!

Moving...
This spanish language movie is set in the mountains in the state of Guerrero, Mexico during a revolutionary period where the peasants are attempting to overthrow the army rule and control over the farmlands. Central to the plot are three generations of men - Don Plutarco, the one-hand violin playing grandfather - his son Genaro (plays guitar and a key member of revolution) and the grandson Lucio. The three of them travel from town to town playing music for pennies while the story begins to unfold. While Genaro is active in participating in revolutionary activities, it's Plutarco's music and craftiness which engage a Senior army officer for the benefit of the revolution. The story opens with some brutally violent scenes which immediately take you into its grips - and then gently rocks you back and forth between calm and reflection and tension. The movie is filmed in stunning black and white vistas. The individual characters and hardships are etched in the faces and bodies. This is a slow moving but captivating film - which moves from brutality to poverty and tenderness and back again. Like many great performances, few words are spoken in this film but much is understood. If you liked Grapes of Wrath, you'll likely enjoy this movie which has similar themes of poverty, endurance, struggle. Loved it...