Reviews & Columns |
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
DVD Talk Forum |
|
Resources |
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
Columns
|
|
Nada
Perhaps unjustifiably compared to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti's film Nada + (Nothing More) has all the stylistic glamour that made the French production a multi-billion success. Shot predominantly in black and white with occasional subjects (a flower, a pen, a poster of Che Guevara, etc) painted in bright colors this unique Cuban project offers some captivating camera work and inspired acting. Where Amelie however was able to build upon a nicely shaped story and support it with style and perfectionism Nada + falls a bit short of being a truly original film.
In a tiny post office room somewhere in Havana Carla (Thais Valdez) wishes of helping other people achieve their dreams. Day after day she sorts letters and occasionally reads them to fight the boredom and humidity of Havana. Sometimes she even rewrites the letters and puts them back in the stock bin where the postman picks them up. Filled with poetry, passion, and zest for life Carla's letters are slowly beginning to transform the lives of postal customers in Havana.
Whilst striving to help people in Havana Carla also has a wish of her own-she is hoping to join her family in America by winning the "green-card" lottery. Unfortunately her name is never drawn and year after year she is left with nothing but hopes and an annoying neighbor that seems to be spending more time in Carla's flat than in her own. On a top of everything else the local postal authorities are sending a new supervisor to Carla's office to take care of a minor issue regarding mail and its distribution. Does Carla have anything to worry about?
As mentioned earlier there have been some comparisons made between Amelie and Juan Malberti's Nada + which in my opinion stem from the striking visual style the director has managed to achieve. The fast motion sequences, the overhead shots, the unstable camera following the main lead, are all factors that indeed call for a comparison between the two films. While Amelie however was more of a romantic story with a twist Nada + seems to be carrying a much more serious message that will resonate with audiences familiar with the current political environment in Cuba. I sense a hidden desire to caricature the bureaucratic structure of the Cuban society which director Malberti has managed just perfectly with his subtle depiction of the chaos in the local post office.
If there is anything that sets back Nada + it is the overly melodramatic tone of the letters which Carla rewrites. It seems like the director went a bit too far in focusing on Carla's writings and as a result the film feels as a mix of disjointed stories as opposed to a more coherent tale of a woman and her hopes in a city crumbled by heavy political censorship. From Carla's neighbor asking for a table spoon of ground coffee to the casual electric blackouts in the city of Havana the director's message screams loud and clear to me, perhaps a tad too loud.
On a positive side I loved the charming tone of Nada + and the sweet idealism that the casual encounter between Carla and her younger admirer brought to the screen. There is something undeniably attractive in the way people manage to find love in an environment that anything but calls for human affection. Add to the mix the breathtaking vistas of beautiful Havana and you have a film that might as well be considered the Cuban answer to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie.
How Does the Film Look? How Does the DVD sound? Extras: Final Thoughts:
|
Popular Reviews |
Sponsored Links |
|
Sponsored Links |
|
Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices
|