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Variety.com - 1888: The Extraordinary Voyage of the Santa Isabel (fwd)

From: Brian Taves <btav~at~loc.gov>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:02:58 -0400 (EDT)
To: jvforum <jvf~at~math.technion.ac.il>

Some asked for more info on this--no further word on whether it will be on
video.


Brian Taves
Motion Picture/Broadcasting/Recorded Sound Division
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20540-4692
Telephone: 202-707-9930; 202-707-2371 (fax)
Email: btav~at~loc.gov


Disclaimer--All opinions expressed are my own.


Posted: Tue., Jan. 17, 2006, 4:06pm PT
 
1888: The Extraordinary Voyage of the Santa Isabel
1888: El Extraordinario Viaje De La Santa Isabel
(Venezuela )

A Cine Seis Ocho/Centro Nacional Autonomo de Cinematografia production.
(International sales: Cine Seis Ocho, Caracas, Venezuela.) Produced by
Alfredo J. Anzola. Executive producers, Laura Oramas, Jose Ernesto
Martinez.
Directed by Alfredo J. Anzola. Screenplay, Gustavo Michelena, Rafael
Arraiz Lucca, Anzola.
 
With: Marco Villarubia, Ronnie Nordenflycht, Kristin Pardo.
(Spanish, Italian dialogue)

 

  _____

By ROBERT KOEHLER
<http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=bio&peopleID=1207>
  _____

The pleasures of watching Jules Verne venture down the lush Orinoco
River for equal bits adventure, science and l'amour come across modestly
in co-writer-director Alfredo J. Anzola's "1888: The Extraordinary
Voyage of the Santa Isabel." Shot and staged in a manner best suited to
television, pic reps a fine armchair saga that, with a few trims, is
wonderfully suited for smart family vid viewing.

Inspired by the treks of Italian ethnographer Count Ermanno Stradelli
(Ronnie Nordenflycht) and Verne's 1898 novel, "The Mighty Orinoco,"
script adopts Verne's fanciful technique of mixing fact with fiction,
science with human desire.

Informing his dull wife that "the only woman I am chasing is adventure"
(which subtitles mistranslate as "happiness"), Verne (Marco Villarubia)
sails to Amazonia with partner Stradelli, a hot-headed but dedicated
scientist. Where Werner Herzog's film odysseys in the same region
profile madness, Anzola's tale stresses two rational and fun-loving
intellectuals.

Unexpected intruder Juan, fleeing bandits, joins the pair, but he turns
out to be a she in disguise named Juana (Kristin Pardo), who foolishly
wants to conceal her true identity from Stradelli. After a brief fling
with Verne, Juana and the Italian count get past their differences as
she seeks her long-lost father in the forest.

A bigger canvas would have clearly best served this tale, but pic's
small scale revives the tradition of Disney's engaging adventure pics of
yore, such as "Treasure Island." Anzola's acting trio easily mix and
match, with Spanish dialogue shifting into Italian and back again
without hesitation. Pic was Venezuela's official Oscar submission, only
to be disqualified when required paperwork wasn't filed with the Acad.
 

 
Camera (color), Michael Montes; editor, Fermin Branger; music, Alfonso
Montes; production designer, Marietta Perroni; costume designer, Stella
Jacobs; makeup, Jacobs; sound, Frank Rojas, Danny Rojas; assistant
directors, Luisa De La Ville , Branger. Reviewed at Palm Springs Film
Festival (Cine Latino), Jan. 14, 2006. Running time: 95 MIN.

 

 
Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&r=VE1117929272&c=31
<http://www.variety.com/story.asp?l=story&r=VE1117929272&c=31>
 
Received on Thu 12 Oct 2006 - 21:45:16 IST

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