EDUCATIONAL
It is said that flamenco is a way of life.
FEATURE LENGTH
Flamenco - Director's Cut
We shot Flamenco: the Land Is Still Fertile (Flamenco, la tierra está viva) in southern Spain’s “cradle of flamenco,” in and near the city of Jerez de la Frontera. Since associate director Antonio de la Malena, a prize-winning singer from Jerez, knows “everyone” in the flamenco world, he ensured that the documentary gives an accurate representation of this passionate art form, and secured the participation of the region’s most important performers.
The documentary uses performance, interviews, a narration and other materials to show what traditional flamenco is. It also attempts to contrast it with flamenco fusion so that the viewer will be able to distinguish between the two. Since (in this director’s opinion) traditional flamenco is an art form that with great emotional depth, far more (in this director’s opinion) than flamenco fusion, we should preserve and nurture it.
SPECS: 1 hr. 40 min., color, HD. In Spanish with English subtitles; has closed captions and comes with 5 min. EXTRA, a guitar solo by Diego del Morao.
You can PUCHASE directly from us (SEE BELOW) or from Alexander Street Press (all formats) or the DVD only from Midwest Tape.
EPISODES - as seen on PBS
All Four Episodes Together
Especially for classroom use, we have this version in which the full documentary is divided into four separate episodes (or chapters), each one about 27-28 minutes long. As before, these were shot in southern Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera and combine performance, interviews, a narration and other material.
This is the version which has been airing over PBS and other television stations. Again, it features well-known flamenco singer Antonio de la Malena as narrator, and contains world-class performance, fascinating interviews and other material.
SPECS: About 2 hrs. (each of the 4 episodes is 27-28 min. long), color, HD, produced/directed by Eve A. Ma, in Spanish with English subtitles, has ADA-approved closed captions.
You can PURCHASE directly from us (SEE BELOW) or from Films Media Group or (DVD only) from Midwest Tape.
INDIVIDUAL EPISODES - as seen on PBS
Episode #1: Flamenco, Farm Workers, and...
This episode focuses on flamenco’s connection with farm-workers, especially gitano (Spanish Gypsy) farm-workers, who lived in farm-workers’ dormitories for most of the year. Because of their close connection over long periods of time, perhaps more than anyone else, they are primarily responsible for maintaining and further developing the art form. In addition to the farm laborers, there is a section about the origins of gitanos in northwest India’s Rajasthan.
This episode is enriched by the performance of:
• Tía Juana la del Pipa – cante (singing),
• Niño Jero el Periquín – guitar
• Antonio de la Malena cante (singing)
• Antonio el Pipa – dance
SPECS: A half-hour (27 min.), color, HD, closed captions. In Spanish with English subtitles, and closed captions.
Episode #2: Fish Mongers & More, Gitanos in India
Episode 2 focuses on flamenco’s connection with other occupations, such as fishermen, fish mongers, mining,
blacksmiths and prisoners in the jails. There is also a section about gitanos’ singing in India and in “Mesopotania,” halfway between India and Spain.
This episode is enriched by the performance of:
• la Elu de Jerez – cante (singing),
• Manuel de Malena – cante (singing)
• Manuel Agujetas cante (singing)
• Antonio Agujetas cante (singing)
• Jairo Amaya dance
SPECS: A half-hour (27 min.), color, HD. closed captions. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Episode #3: the Emotional Range of Flamenco
Episode 3 focuses on the emotional range of the art, starting with a romance flamenco, a form that clearly comes out of Spanish folklore and whose words tell stories of Spanish history. The episode continues with several versions of the more profound soléa and then seguirillas. There is also a section that recounts the difficult history that gitanos have had in Spain.
This episode is enriched by the performance of:
• la Paula – dance
• la Macanita – cante (singing)
• María del Mar Moreno – dance
• Manuel Moneo – cante (singing)
• Manuel Parrilla – guitar
• Manuel Agujetas – cante (singing)
SPECS: A half-hour (27 min.), color, HD. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Episode #4: Possible Future & Fin de Fiesta Flamenca
Episode 4 looks at the possible future of traditional flamenco. Will it be overcome by the commercial success of modern flamenco and flamenco fusion? The episode ends with a lively “fin de fiesta” which typically is performed as the finale of every flamenco show.
This episode is enriched by the solo performances listed below, and of our fin de fiesta group:
• Luis Moneo – cante (singing)
• María del Mar Moreno & Antonio el Pipa– dance
• Fin de Fiesta artists include:
SPECS: A half-hour (27 min.), color, HD. In Spanish with English subtitles.4
DVD
To purchase on DVD, send us a purchase order. Please be sure to indicate whether you want the ORIGINAL VERSION (1 hr. 45 min.), the DIRECTOR’S 2ND CUT (1 hr. 39 min. PLUS a 5-min. Extra) or the 4 HALF-HOUR EPISODES (CHAPTERS) ON ONE DVD. We will send an invoice with the DVD(s).
As before, the documentary, no matter what version, was shot in southern Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera, and combines world-class performance, fascinating interviews, a narration by famous flamenco singer Antonio de la Malena, and other material.
SPECS: Color, HD, produced/directed by Eve A. Ma, in Spanish with English subtitles, has ADA-approved closed captions. Length depends on version you choose (see above)
OTHER
Para ti mi cante… que es mi libertad - music album featuring Antonio de la Malena
Antonio de la Malena’s double album of flamenco singing (cante), Para ti mi cante… includes 16 tracks for a full two hours of very fine, traditional flamenco. He is accompanied by several fine guitarists: Manuel Parilla, Domingo Rubichi, Malena Hijo and Santiago Moreno.
In addition to alegrias, bulerias and seguiriyas, etc., Malena sings us trilla, serrana, and other less well-known forms. A very complete album that aficionados will appreciate.
Malena is twice winner of best singer in the prestigious, annual Festival de Flamenco de Jerez de la Frontera. I
tours extensively and has sung solos on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica.
NECK SCARVES
Neck scarves made in Spain by the wife of associate director Antonio de la Malena. Quantities limited, choose your color: two-tone grey, white, grey with gold, blue, pink, and white with brown.
