Nueba Yol

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!!!

This is a well made comedy with funny, but not exaggerated, jokes. The downside is the introduced love-affair which is not very convincing. Combines reality and comedy very well.

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.

This movie is not only funny but it shows the mentality that Dominicans in the Dominican Republic have, I know because my entire family member in d.r thought the same things. (if you live in new York money flies like leafs and you can just catch it in the air), it also shows how an immigrate comes to face all the difficulties of finding a job and having to sleep of sofa mattress and come to realize this is not how it was picture or said. The movie is very funny and also truthful I think the author wanted people to know mostly of how people that don't live in the us think about this country, he was successful doing it. Overall I think the movies great!