Xavier Viramontes: A Life In Print 2008
Distributed by Cinema Guild, 115 West 30th Street, Suite 800, New York, NY 10001; 212-685-6242
Produced by Michel Fraser
Directed by Michel Fraser
DVD, color, 60 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Art, Biography, Chicano Art, Hispanic Art, Latino Art, Printmaking
Date Entered: 09/18/2009
Reviewed by Sebastian Derry, Temple UniversityFilmmaker Michel Fraser swings for the fences and knocks one out of the park with this heartfelt portrayal of San Francisco printmaker Xavier Viramontes.
As the child of Mexican immigrants, his is the classic American tale of immigrant success. The film unfolds as Viramontes relates his own story and that of his family. Viramontes’ awakening to art, his subsequent involvement with and emergence as a leader in the San Francisco Chicano art scene, the creation of his iconic masterwork, the “Boycott Grapes” poster in 1973, and a lengthy career teaching printmaking at City College of San Francisco—it all coalesces into a quietly powerful yet visceral reminder of why art matters, and how it can change lives.
Michel Fraser brings the same level of dedication to the filmmaking process as her subject does to printmaking. A visual artist herself, Fraser deftly crafts the narrative, editing, and visual elements, combining archival footage with present-day videography. Throw in a jaunty accordion-laced score by San Francisco composer Safa Shokrai, and you have a very strong contender for the best DVD release of 2009, bar none.
Included on the disc is a 30-minute tutorial of Viramontes demonstrating his multiple plate etching process, a gallery showcasing Viramontes’ prints, paintings and billboards, and an image gallery of documentary art work.
More about Viramontes can be found at his website and about the film at A Life in Print.
Highly recommended for all libraries.