Perhaps you consider yourself a lover in terms of cultural knowledge of Puerto Rican arts. You may have read "La Charca" (1894) by Manuel Zeno Gandía. You are probably a fan of "La Llamarada" (1934) by Enrique Laguerre. Who knows, you probably love "La Guaracha del Macho Camacho" which was written by Luis Rafael Sánchez, or the obscure novel "Arenales" by historian Loida Figueroa. No? Then perhaps you are an appreciator of painting, a fan of José Campeche (1741-1809), Denis Mario Rivera (1957- ). I don't know, maybe you love music and know by heart all the compositions of Rafael Hernández Marín, his devotion to the "Preciosa" that is our island; or the "Lamento Borincano" that we have suffered since we became a colony. No? Well, you may live the crazy life to the sound of Ricky Martin. Maybe "Estamos Bien" as Benito Martínez (Bad Bunny) would suggest. God knows if maybe you're from the old guard and actually spend your life thinking about José Feliciano. Not even close? Are you telling me that you only appreciate the concrete, the facts? Well, then you may be more of a history lover. May you be one of those who still believes in the treasure of Roberto Cofresí, or the exploits in Guanica de Águila Blanca. In any case, you are still a lover of the arts. The arts are the history of our people. Like Roberto Cofresi and José Maldonado Román alias Aguila Blanca; They transmuted from a brief note within Puerto Rican historiography, reaching our reality as icons of national greatness.
In this same way Joseph Lando has broken the boundaries of Puerto Rican cinema. From history to folklore. From whisper to legend, just like our beloved Chupacabras. Mexicans continue to appropriate it because of "The X-Files" but every Puerto Rican at heart knows that the one who discovered it was "Chemo Jones" and the one who registered it among the demographic records was Silverio Pérez. Lando has achieved what NO local filmmaker has ever done. Create a true interest and love for the arts, but the cinematographic arts. Jacobo Morales always falls short, his dramas tend to be repetitive. That always deal on the subject of old age. Sunshine shouldn't even be appearing on television anymore. Let's not even talk about Raymond Arrieta... Sir, leave comedy and keep walking. Let's not start talking about the overruse of ideas in Puerto Rican movies. We always receive mediocre sexist comedies about drugs or life in the streets. Overall there's never anything fresh coming out our local cinema. Joseph Lando, I genuinely believe you have brought a type of cinema that this island has needed for decades. The magical world of exploitation, and the world of B movies.
The Giallo in Italy, Spaghetti Westerns, Bollywood, Wakaliwood, so many genres and magical places where people through absurdism create art, create expression, create history. Where they the space to express the frustrations that many times erupt from out shattered and oppressed history. I will not throw the plot on the table, it must be enjoyed individually and in secret. Just as Alfred Hitchcock forbade telling the end of "Psycho", we should also forbid this ray of light within a society that has been stagnant for centuries -I don't get this from my opinions, this comes from what those who wrote, lived and saw before us experienced e.g. Manuel Zeno Gandía (La Charca) and Luis Rafael Sánchez (La Guaracha del Macho Camacho)- reborn from the ashes and colonization. Zack: Enfrentamiento Mortal is a Puerto Rican movie that brings everything that the local cinema never brings. Effort, passion, originality, and love for arts. As well as giving space to so many young actors and talent that we have here. Mr. Lando Should have the opportunity to develop his universe. It's the first time (not counting documentaries) that the puertorican cinema gives me something worth My time and space. That something is Zack: Enfrentamiento Mortal, it's Joseph Lando, it's history.
