"Transfor, my condemnations, you screwed up, but I want you to redeem yourself on your next project. For good or bad, you have written a very important page in the history of Puerto Rico's cinema. ", So ended a post that I wrote on my Facebook page on March 11, 2016, during the scandal of "Vasos de Papel", which Transfor Ortiz directed, and turned out to be a plagiarism of an American film of the 1980's.
I had the privilege of being invited to a very special screening of his new film "Vico C: The Life of the Philosopher".
The movie is out of league!
It narrates the events that led the rapper to become a glory in the world of rap, his unlimited genius to turn any song he wrote into a success, his concern for breaking schemes, mixing musical genres and his constant struggle with his inner demons.
The film is a masterpiece. It is a success of performance, editing, rhythm and direction. Since starting emotionally contact with the protagonists and at no time released me.
This work has so many details that it is impossible to capture them all at a first glance.
First. It is masterfully starring Luis "Loupz" Lozada Jr., son of Vico C., which makes it even more shocking to see the son going through the experiences that his father lived at the end of the last century. He is accompanied by Mariangelie Vélez who played Sonia, wife of Vico. Another top performance.
Second. The fact that the real-life actors are alive and collaborated with both the director, scriptwriter and actors, gave a documentary realism to each of the dramatic scenes.
Third. The movie feels so real, I sometimes felt like I was watching a YouTube video, and I totally forgot I was watching a drama.
This film struck me in more than one way since I am not a fan of urban music, and I have a very stereotypical prejudices of their singers, and I know very little about how difficult is the life in the projects and hamlets, And the interiorities of the world of urban music.
I knew, because I remember it, that what we know today as reggaeton, began as rap in the 80's, but it really had its origins as underground music, and I remember that Vico C was one of the rappers of that time that best rapped and Who always carried a message in his lyrics.
I never thought that behind the cameras, this man was going through a hellish nightmare that took him to the world of drugs and put him to the brink of death.
It is important to note that Sonia, Vico's wife, plays a very important role in the film. In times where movie theaters are flooded with superhero movies, it is gratifying to meet a true heroine in real life. Applause to the actress and applause to the real Sonia, whom I had the privilege of meeting and sitting next to her during the presentation. That night was special.
I laughed, I cried, I reflected and I even took the pleasure to rap, during the almost two hours that the film lasted. It is a dense and tense film, which has very few bathroom breaks.
One of the most outstanding aspects of Transfor Ortiz's direction is that he chose to use the relationship between Vico and his father as the main arch to mark the three acts and tie the story. This is very effective since it gives universality and helps to make anyone feel identified with the plot.
I mention this because although the film tells the life of a rapper, it is not a rap musical that only appeals to fans of that genre and the residents of hamlets.
No, on the contrary, the film manages to appeal to the general public. Of course, I do not recommend it to young children, because it is emotionally strong.
"It's not climbing and falling ... It's falling and getting up!" This is the refrain that sums up the plot of the film, but it also has a very personal meaning for its director Transfor Ortiz.
Today, I am glad to tell you that my wish came true. Transfor has risen and has been rein-vindicated and writes another important page in the history of Puerto Rico's cinema.
The film "Vico C: The Life of the Philosopher" premieres in the cinemas of Puerto Rico on August 10, 2017.
