Nueba Yol

This picture gets the reality that embrace many foreigners trying to get to the United States. Being this one of the first attempts of the Dominican Film Industry I don't think they did that poorly. The story is based on a local comedy character (Balbuena) who widowed several years early. He doesn't have any skills or knowledge and only goes around surviving until a friend of him promises to take him to the promise land "nueva yol" (new york city). One of the phrases to convince him to go there is: In nuevayol you find five dollar bills growing in the streets. You will find many locations and culture from The Dominican Republic and some of the places where most of the dominican colony resides in New York

for all of those who say this movie is too Dominican that's it is... well it was made in Santo Domingo by us the Dominicans. yeah i'm Dominican and very proud of it... don't be saying the movie is not good just because u don't understand how US DOMINICANS be talking OK... and Balbuena is funny as hell. us Dominican are very proud of this movie because it reflects what any Dominican would want that is to come to the U.S for "el sueño Americano". It's a good thing this movie was made it makes all of us the Dominicans very proud and we like it a whole lot. Just make sure you watch the movie and really understand what they are saying before saying anything.

This movie is just so Dominican. I love it!!! this film made me remember my roots and the spicy sense of humor of the Caribbean people. Balbuena, the main character, belongs to Dominican Republlic folklore. He reflects the eternal fight for reach "USland" thinking that in this soil everybody could be "rich", and then, go back wrapping with dollars. Many years before of the birth of this movie, Luisito Martí as Balbuena, was looking for his dreams in several local TV shows in his country. At the end of every sketch something happened and he couldn't reach New York... Nueva Yol. It so important to notice that for Dominican people New York is la like the Mecca!!!

Because of a lack of funding, Nueba Yol is not a very well made film. Although the main character, Balbuena, is quite likable, the film is lacking in multiple elements. There is a bit of confusion as to how certain events come about and a good amount left unanswered at the end. The concept of the movie, a Dominican wanting to move to New York and find a new life, is good and it is relatable in that many people find their dreams turn out differently than expected, but it is not well carried out. As a Dominican film it isn't bad and many Dominicans love it, but showing it to an American audience will evoke a less than desirable response.

I was disappointed to see the low rating this film got overall, but I noticed that about 1/3 of voting viewers gave it a 10. If you like it, you really like it. And the people who like it most are Dominicans. Is this because it only appeals to people from that particular island country? I have recommended it to friends and students only to hear them complain about plot and characterization being too...stereotyped. Balbuena is a bit of a caricature. This is in the great tradition of Hispanic comedy, including pictures like the Cantiflas films and Mi familia (with its roots in Chicano theater). It has something in common with early Spike Lee (e.g. Do the Right Thing) and also a film like John Sayles' Brother from Another Planet. It does not offer psychological realism of the sort that reinforces bourgeois individualism. But if you would like to have a taste of Dominican culture and you aren't afraid to temporarily give up your Hollywood aesthetic, this film could be for you. And Balbuena is funny as hell.