#California
Les Miserables brings the story to life
By GalaTView/ Jenny Alvarez Staff
Photos by Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
I was skeptical about this play because the novel is a master piece of Victor Hugo in 1862 was the first time published. However, it has been adapted as a vivid play-with-music and has its fair share of interesting and even poignant moments, where production feels surprisingly energetic and really becomes much livelier when it reaches the best of the cast feelings with some stories delivered via monologues; divided in two acts, this play had a well-structured contemporary drama. I was speechless because it has been considered as one of the best musical plays in theatrical history and this one, particularly, makes you feel into the story.
All performers moved the heart in an emotional state of love and connection with all parts in the musical with impressive singing with all the musicians’ participation. There were notable standouts especially in each act and songs with the main actors such as Nick Cartell, Preston Truman, Steve Czarnecki, Daniel Gerard Bittner, Eden Mau, Emily Some and more. The Orchestra conductor is Brian Eads with his extraordinary talent.
Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, made the best and memorable play in Los Angeles where you might enjoy for six weeks at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre from August 1 – September 10, 2023. Definitely, it is worth to see this phenomenal play.
Chile '76 a film of different sides
By GalaTView staff
Photos courtesy Cinema Tropical
An important Chilean film is coming with Chile ’76 (1976) by Manuela Martelli and Francisca Alegría.
All begins in the early days of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship; Chile ’76 builds from a quiet character study to a gripping suspense thriller as it explores one woman’s precarious flirtation with political engagement. Carmen (Aline Kuppenheim) leads a sheltered upper-middle-class existence. The story unfolds as she heads to her summer house in the off-season to supervise its renovation, while her husband, children, and grandchildren visit on and off, bringing reminders of the world beyond. When the family priest asks her to take care of an injured young man he has been sheltering in secret, Carmen is inadvertently drawn into the world of the Chilean political opposition and must face real-world threats she is unprepared to handle, with potentially disastrous consequences for her and her entire family.
Psychologically all characters have a fear, all the political movements of that time affect directly to their social life. Some characters suffer paranoia and heroic moments as well. While a dark moment reflect the reality of that time, the main characters face margination, suffering and power of decision. Definitely, a film that must be seen.
The Lion King is roaring in LA
By GalaTView Staff
Photos by Broadway in Hollywood
Broadway Theater returns again at Pantages Theater, California. The Lion King, The Award winning best Musical is back with a great spectacle where a lot of people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But Scar, Mufasa’s brother has different thoughts of the real kingdom of African Pride Lands. This musical will make you laugh and suffer with the beautiful lion cub and friends. Music, costumes and performers were incredibly prepared for all songs. There was a full orchestra in the pit and two percussion sections on both sides of the stage. Characters managed their body language very well and certainly allows for anyone to follow the whole story. To see actors singing and dancing at the same time was very enjoyable. Humor was very remarkable with talented dancers so the play was absolutely stunning. This play includes the best cast for its impressive special sound effects and props. The story keeps the essence of the book and it will be able to capture you more, and you can really use your imagination as part of the animation of the best musical play. The energy of the cast and the creativity of the animal portrayals are unique. Definitely, it is a highly recommended show for everybody.
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE
By Jenny Alvarez
Photo by Courtesy Blue Fox Entertainment
From the well-known director Eleanor Coppola (Paris Can Wait, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse), LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE tells three stories that explore love, commitment, and loyalty between couples and friends. In the film’s first story TWO FOR DINNER, a married couple (Joanne Whalley and Chris Messina) find an unconventional way to transcend long distance through technology, but discover they were farther apart than they knew. In SAILING LESSON, a long-married couple (Kathy Baker and Marshall Bell) tries to reignite their honeymoon-phase heat through a spontaneous sailing trip… and unexpected events arise. And in LATE LUNCH, a young woman (Maya Kazan) who recently lost her mother gathers together a group of her mother’s friends (including Cybill Shepherd, Rosanna Arquette, and Rita Wilson) to share memories. Surprising revelations ensue.
Definitely, this film makes it memorable because talks about love in different forms so the viewer might make it predictable but at the end is unsatisfactory. Love usually refers to an experience one person feels for another. Love often involves caring for, or identifying with, a person or thing but here all elements are not clear for most of the characters. A film worth to see in order to think about what is love?
Throughout all three stories, Coppola uses a light touch and naturalistic ease to find the heart of the deepest friendships and romances.
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE was produced by Anahid Nazarian (Tetro, Youth Without Youth), and is an American Zoetrope production. It premiered at the 2020 Deauville Film Festival and was also an official 2020 Tribeca Film Festival selection.
Blue Fox Entertainment will release LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE on VOD Tuesday, December 14.
