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The weather is heating up and so are the programs at the St. Helena Public Library. As spring draws to a close and we get ready for summer there is much to celebrate and good times to be had by all. The first Wednesday of every month is always “Film Night” at the library and even though it will be light outside until late, we’ll lower the lights indoors to enjoy a special selection for Cinco de Mayo. On siete de Mayo (May 7, that is) we will screen the movie El Violin (The Violin).
This film, the most internationally awarded Mexican film in history, tells the story of Don Plutarco. Plutarco, his son Genaro and his grandson Lucio live a double life: on one hand they are musicians and humble farmers, on the other they also support the campesino guerilla movement’s armed efforts against the oppressive government. When the military seizes the village, the rebels flee to the sierra hills, forced to leave behind their stock of ammunition. While the guerillas organize a counter-attack, old Plutarco executes his own plan. He plays up his appearance as a harmless violin player, and makes it back into the military-occupied village to try to recuperate the ammunition hidden in his corn field. His violin playing charms the army captain, who orders Plutarco to come back daily, consequently developing a relationship in which arms and music play a tenuous game of cat-and-mouse, which ultimately results in painful betrayal. The film is in Spanish and will be shown with English subtitles.
