“Chavela” Documents Life Of Out Lesbian Mexican Icon; Screens At NWFF Next Week

November 2, 2017• byMichael Strangeways

The highly acclaimed film CHAVELA has had several successful local film festival screenings this year but now it returns for two days only to Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum on Capitol Hill on November 8th and 9th.

CHAVELA is centered on the iconic Mexican singer Chavela Vargas who dared to bend gender norms in conservative 20th century Mexico as an out lesbian and became a national icon to all Mexicans, straight and gay.

More info on the film and the trailer:

Through its lyrical structure, Chavela takes viewers on an evocative, thought-provoking journey through the iconoclastic life of game-changing artist Chavela Vargas. Centered around never before-seen interview footage of Chavela shot 20 years before her death in 2012, and guided by the stories in Chavela’s songs, and the myths and tales others have told about her – as well as those she spread about herself – the film weaves an arresting portrait of a woman who dared to dress, speak, sing, and dream her unique life into being.

“This tuneful portrait of Chavela Vargas, “born singing” in 1919 Costa Rica, admiringly explores her impact on the world of Mexican music as an out lesbian … a charismatic figure and a great artist.” – Moira McDonald, Seattle Times

“Chavela is a vivid portrayal of an artistic, social and sexual rebel whose difficult but finally triumphant life finally proved that there sometimes really are second acts in showbiz lives.” – Jonathan Romney, Screen International

Wed Nov 08: 7.15pm

Thu Nov 09: 7.00pm

$12 General Admission
$9 Student/Senior
$7 Member

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CHAVELA

Directed by Catherine Gund & Daresha Kyi

Mexico

2017

1h 33m

Series – Music in Motion

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.