VIOLETA EXISTS

Director: Rodrigo Avilés
Chile | 2022 | Spanish with English subtitles | 75 min | Documentary

View IN-PERSON at SFU WOODWARDS on Wed, Aug 31 at 7:00pm

Cultural Presenter:

Con la participación de:
With the participation of:

ÁNGEL PARRA ORREGO / JAVIERA PARRA / ÁNGEL PARRA / GASTÓN SOUBLETTE
RAÚL ZURITA / LUIS TORREJÓN / MANUEL GARCÍA / ALEX ANWANDTER / ÁLVARO LÓPEZ

50 years later, Ángel and Javiera Parra Orrego, renowned Chilean musicians, dare to interpret and record “Las Últimas Composiciones de Violeta Parra” -The Greatest Chilean Album of All Times- (Rolling Stone Magazine, 2008). This fundamental work of Latin American culture was originally made by their grandmother, Violeta Parra, in 1966, shortly before she took her own life. But the master tape and its reproduction rights were unscrupulously seized by the Pinochet dictatorship. For decades “Las Ultimas Composiciones” has not been reissued or even made available to the public. In 2017, 100 years after Violeta’s birth, her grandchildren decided to return these songs to the people in a new version. They are joined by their father, Ángel Parra, and outstanding Chilean musicians. The following three years will be intense and transcendental. Rehearsals, recordings, concerts and tours. While Ángel Parra’s cancer progresses in a hurry.

Violeta Existe is the intimate portrait of this experience and the overwhelming complexity of interpreting the great Violeta and her work.

50 años después, Ángel y Javiera Parra Orrego se atreven a interpretar y registrar “Las Últimas Composiciones de Violeta Parra”. -El Mejor Disco Chileno de todos los tiempos- (Revista Rolling Stone, 2008), obra fundamental de la cultura Latinoamericana, grabado por su abuela en 1966, poco antes de quitarse la vida.Pero el Master tape y sus derechos de reproducción fueron inescrupulosamente capturados por la dictadura de Pinochet. Por décadas “Las Últimas Composiciones” no ha sido editado ni difundido.En 2017, a 100 Años del nacimiento de Violeta, sus nietos deciden devolver estas canciones a la gente en una nueva versión. Los acompañan su padre Ángel Parra y destacados músicos chilenos.Los siguientes tres años serán intensos y trascendentales. Ensayos, grabaciones, conciertos y giras. Mientras el cáncer de Ángel Parra padre avanza apurado.“Violeta Existe” es el retrato íntimo de esta experiencia y la abrumadora complejidad de interpretar a la gran Violeta y su obra.Corriendo al encuentro de la abuela, los hermanos despiden a su padre.

Rodrigo Avilés

Chilean director, cinematographer, and producer of projects related to music, contemporary art, documentary film, fiction and advertising. Founder and director of La Positiva. Rodrigo Avilés has excelled in Chile as one of the main Directors of Photography. His many concerns, coupled with great sensitivity, have led him to develop an extensive career in photography and filmmaking.