Itzia Tango y Cacao (2023) User Reviews

Fresh air for Colombian cinema

[enproduccionjose · 10/10 · 6 December 2023]

While watching this film, you will feel the intention of a new way of storytelling in Colombia. Flora Martínez and her crew put the light on the beauty of the country side and voice the amazing and magical stories that fill everyday life in Colombia.

This film shine the light on minorities, taking an African American man to be the irresistible leading man and not the bad guy as most of the time he is portrayed in South American films. Itzia is the heroin: an empowered deaf woman who inspires and reflects values such as hard work, relentlessness and who doesn't allow society to make her feel less, weak or stray her away from her convictions.

This film portray things as miracles, magic and the most powerful force that humanity knows: L O V E.

Very Original

[floramartinezprowse · 10/10 · 4 December 2023]

For the past 30 years, Colombian cinema has accustomed us to violent plots, drugs, prostitutes, pedophilia. I was part of some of them such as "Rosario Tijeras": the most famous "sicaria" in cinema history. This film has none of that, on the contrary, it is artistic, magical, musical, original and with very good performances. I hope my "opera prima" will inspire other Latin American filmmakers to continue down this path of creativity in their scripts, beauty of our beautiful territories, where art and originality are the main thing, and also the depth of the human being. It was risky and brave bet to make this kind of film in Colombia, but we get it and succeeded with a wide audience in Colombian theaters during seven weeks!. I wish to continue directing and playing great characters such as my beloved Itzia. Cheers!

A story about love, resilience and hope.

[candombejazz-19722 · 10/10 · 10 December 2023]

This is a story about love, resilience, faith and hope. Itzia is a strong and determined woman who does not give up in the face of adversity. The film is a metaphor for the search of peace and reconciliation in Colombia.

The production has an exquisite photography where you can see lush landscapes of Colombian mountain ranges. Its music is evocatively captivating, it is a metaphor of love, passion and spiritual connection and the film, with its careful narrative, features the outstanding performance of Flora Martínez , Gerardo Romano, Patricia Ércole and Julián Díaz.

Martínez and her production team used elements of magical realism to create a dreamlike and mysterious atmosphere, which is nuanced by the fruity and bittersweet notes of "chucureño" chocolate.

"Itzia, Tango & Cacao" is a beautiful and moving film that is worth watching with the family and that will surely leave a good taste in audience. It is a story about love, resilience and hope; and it is an excellent representation of Colombia's cocoa culture, a testimony to the role of women in building peace in our country.

Néstor Ballesteros Puerto (Uniminuto Radio - Colombia)

Innovative Colombian magical-realism narrative

[prowsecine · 10/10 · 9 December 2023]

In Colombia we used to excuse ourselves for not going to the theaters to watch local films, because their directors bordered on weak humor films and monothematic ones about drug trafficking or guerrillas.

Another pretext for our apathy towards Colombian cinema was that they only filmed social pornography, natural actors with improvised scripts.

In my case, without dismissing Colombian productions, I am an admirer of Argentine and Spanish cinema. Directors from both backgrounds turn simple, everyday stories into great films. This dynamic is preserved because this cinema has the national support of its own audiences as well as international acceptance.

Now that "Itzia, Tango and Cacao" was released in Colombia, let's emulate the Argentine and Spanish examples.

It was in 2005, when Flora Martinez starred in "Rosario Tijeras", a film by Mexican director Emilio Maillé, who discovered Flora´s talent. She demonstrated that her talent was the complement of her beauty.

Now, after several years, she returns with her directorial debut: "Itzia, Tango and Cacao". Her beauty and intelligence intact. Rather let's say that her talent extended to beauty, acting and directing.

This film innovates pacifist Colombian cinema, the cultivation of cacao highlights the replacement of illicit crops that generate violence.

Putting this film at the same level of Argentine and Spanish cinema.

A dramatic story with a magical realism narrative, shots with neat photography, the healing power of the sad bandoneon, hearing impairment and ethnic inclusion, are the ingredients of a great film that does not let us blink and makes our heart swell.

Going to see it as a family will be the great therapy we needed for the rebirth of filial love.

Luis Angel Muñoz Zúñiga - Diario Occidente (Cali, Colombia)