Violeta se fue a los cielos - Andrés Wood (2011)

Films about real people are always tricky. Especially when the character is someone like Violeta Parra, who was so complex, multi-faceted and interesting. I've seen a documentary about her and it was quite interesting in terms of the interviews it had and how it should a lot of her aspects (in terms of documentaries, it wasn't particularly innovative or creative). With fiction of course it's accepted that dramatic licenses will be taken. I the problem here is how the view they are showing on her is so poor. Compared to a film like La Môme, also a very interesting character, it's very poor. 

Perhaps it fails as a biopic, but does it still work as a film? I suppose so. There's a story to it, you engage in her story... you're introduced to the world of Violeta Parra, just not in all its complexity. One thing is that characters are confusing, I've heard people talking about it (who's that?!). It wants to be an introduction but it also doesn't explain everything (which would mean it's for people who are already familiar with her life.

Still, it's visually very attractive. The music is used reasonably - entirely performed by the actress who does an amazing job as she really turns into her. The sounds... is ok, not great. The editing is a bit weird. There's something wrong with the continuity in between takes (who else notices but me?).

By the end it gets a little... hm. Okay, everyone knows she committed suicide. She had several attempts. So I was curious to see how it was shown. And it doesn't show anything gross or demeaning, which is good. But it doesn't really portray the sadness and difficult times she was in (not just because a lover left her, but because she was suffering in other aspects of her life). It makes it look like a sudden thing, an impulse, when she had been in pain for a while.

I enjoyed the film, I can't say I didn't but it could have been a lot better (especially for all the things I had read about it).

Violeta