Free live music and stuff in Santander, November 2024

These are a few things that I’ve seen in November:

• 3 November: Jazz Jam @ Rvbicón, Calle del Sol, 4, Santander
  The base band of Cristina Ceballos (vocals), Manuel Cavero (double bass), Rafa Santana (piano) and Dani Trueba (drums), plus usual and unusual suspects guests.
• 16 November: Gospel Revolution @ Auditorium Salesianos Santander, Paseo del General Dávila, 73
  In spite of the name, there was very little “gospel” in it — praise the Lord for that, I wouldn’t endure an hour and a half of the stuff. Apart from a couple of truly cringeworthy numbers, the rest was a pleasant enough, if not spectacular, rendition of jazz, soul and disco standards like Hit the Road Jack, I Say a Little Prayer, Moanin’ and We Are Family. Featuring Pachi Aguilar, Loli Andreu, Cris Arnejo, Judith Caballo, Patu Campos, Oriana Carreño, Cris Lobato, Pedro Montero, Pilar Revuelta and Álvaro del Val.

Some exhibitions:

• 21 November — 3 December: «Hippie Memory» @ Galería Este, Mercado Municipal del Este, Calle Hernán Cortés, 4
  Jewellery by art.bylennie (Elena Galindo) and Pedro Calderón; concert of Isaías Rojo (21 November).

  

• 22 November 2024 — 9 February 2025: «Escenas para el séptimo ángel» @ El Palacete del Embarcadero, Muelle de Calderón
  Works by Xesús Vázquez.

  

• From 4 September: «La Dama Roja» @ Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria, Calle de Hernán Cortés, 4
  The exhibition dedicated to the Red Lady of El Mirón, an Upper Paleolithic woman buried some 19,000 years ago. This is the first time I went to the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria and absolutely loved it. Free entrance on Sundays from 17:00 to 20:00.

  

And that was it for November.

El Eco

a film by Tatiana Huezo

Not much happens in the Pueblan village El Eco. The only event of note is the death of the granny, “the first woman to arrive in El Eco”, and even that was expected all along. And yet it’s probably the most engrossing documentary I watched this year. Magic is everywhere: it wouldn’t surprise me if that galloping horse took off to the sky, together with her teenage rider. The children of the village are adorable, especially the teacher girl.

This film closed the VIII cycle of documental film «Miradas Globales».

Les Filles d’Olfa / بنات ألفة

a film by Kaouther Ben Hania

This docu-fiction reconstructs the story of the two teenage Tunisians who left their family to join ISIS. Featuring Olfa and her two younger daughters, Eya and Tayssir. The eldest daughters, Ghofrane and Rahma, those “devoured by the wolf”, are portrayed by Ichraq Matar and Nour Karoui, respectively; Hend Sabry plays a younger Olfa.

This film opened the VIII cycle of documental film «Miradas Globales» organised by La Asociación Cultural La Llave Azul.

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

a film by John Cassavetes

This 1976 cult film starring Ben Gazzara is quite unlike any other film by Cassavetes that I’ve seen so far. Then agan, any Cassavetes film that I’ve seen so far is unlike any other Cassavetes film I’ve seen so far.

Daughters of the Dust

a film by Julie Dash
music by John Barnes

Strange, beautiful, confusing and compelling, Daughters of the Dust is quite unlike of any film I’ve seen. I have to confess that I wasn’t quite able to follow its meandering in circles plot, dozing off on acouple of occasions — or maybe more, as on waking up to another déjà vu made me unsure if I was really awake. So more reasons to watch it again.

Viskningar och rop

a film by Ingmar Bergman

How come I never watched Cries and Whispers before? This almost unbearably stylish film centers on four women, gorgeously portrayed by Harriet Andersson, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin and, of course, Liv Ullmann. On the contary, the men, even David (the great Erland Josephson), are entirely disposable.

As Neves

a film by Sonia Méndez

Kids nowadays.

No, not really. They ain’t any different from us when we were their age. And from our parents, etc. You’ve got your whole life in front of you, and you’re dead bored. Epecially when you are growing up in a rural village in the middle of nowhere, no matter how beautiful. As Neves, for example. So, alcohol, drugs, and sex, if you’re lucky.

Not that the events of this film would be much different if the protagonists were adults. As if grown-ups don’t consume magic mushrooms or engage in revenge porn.

Still, I think that Sonia Méndez was right to shoot a teen drama. The young non-professional actors are utterly convincing and As Neves is worth watching for them alone.