BAJARÍ, an EVA VILA film

«A moving voyage through the eyes of a child and the artistry of a dance at the heart of flamenco»

• Bajarí is to compete at the Festival de Málaga after having been shown by IDFA and the Festival de Guadalajara in Mexico.
• Eva Vila’s second film is a portrait of gypsy culturein the city of Barcelona, which is Bajarí in the gypsy language.
• Karime Amaya, great-niece of Carmen Amaya, guest artist of Farruquito in his show “Abolengo”, and recently awarded the prize for Best Newcomer at the Festival de Jerez, stars in the documentary.

Next June director Eva Vila’s new film will debut in movie theaters.  Bajarí, which is Barcelona in the gypsy language, made its international debut at the prestigious  documentary festival IDFA.  The director drew on her background as musician, documentary-maker and art critic to explore the transmission of art within the gypsy tradition, specifically in the gypsy community of Barcelona where the great Carmen Amaya was born; a film which is being presented in the centennial year of the legendary dancer.

The documentary shows the arrival of Carmen Amaya’s great-niece, Karime Amaya, from Mexico to Barcelona, and how she decided to work with a group of artists in the city to put together a show.  Karime invites her mother, Mercedes Amaya, “Winny”, to join them and help discover their roots.  At the same time the story is told of Juanito, a five-year-old boy who dreams of having red dance boots of his own.  His uncle Coco, a legendary flamenco singer who accompanies Karime in the show, helps him get them.

Barjarí is a very moving film that shows a side of Barcelona forgotten by many, but which continues to renew the younger generation.  In 2013, the year of Carmen Amaya’s centennial, Karime was awarded the prize for Best Newcomer by the Festival de Jerez.  She was also invited by Farruquito to dance with him in his new show Abolengo, and together they will tour the world.

The film was seen at the documentary festival IDFA,  and the Guadalajara film festival.  It will soon compete at the Festival de Málaga before being seen in movie theaters beginning in June.

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