NYU’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center, and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, present a conversation with the creators of groundbreaking Puerto Rican films, El silencio del viento (The Silence of the Wind; 2017), El Chata (The Sparrow; 2017), and Antes que cante el gallo (Before the Rooster Crows; 201). Introduced by Licia Fiol-Matta (NYU Department of Spanish and Portuguese) and moderated by Jennifer Duprey (Rutgers University Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies), students and the academic community at NYU will have the opportunity to dialogue with the directors, some of the actors, screenwriters, sound designers, and producers of these films.

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Gustavo Ramos Perales studied film direction and production at Septima Ars in Madrid, Spain. In Madrid he directed two short films in 16mm: Negro and Frame. Among other videoclips, and videoarts his experimental video proposal, Madrid, gets him selected to the Gijon Film Festival. Back in Puerto Rico, Gustavo produces and edits En la malla, a TV mini series for public television. The series was also aired through various television channels around the United States. (New York, Miami and Chicago). In 2016, he wins the Puerto Rico Film Commission national competition to produce and direct his first feature film El Chata. El Chata was nominated for the Yellow Robin Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. The film was official selection of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival, was showed in Argentina at the Festival de Cine de Tucumán and Spain at the Festival Internacional de Cine de Calatrava were Ramos Perales won the award for Best Director.

EL CHATA

Although Samuel has what it takes to be a boxing champion, he seems destined to receive blows like a punching bag. Now, at thirty, he has no choice but to become a sparring partner because nobody is willing to give him a chance. Even Joe, his former coach, who is training a new prospect, decides to put Samuel to the test. Unable to feed his family and with temptations all around him, all Samuel thinks about is getting back in the ring to prove to himself and to everybody else that his time in prison has changed him, that he is reformed and determined to win back his family and his son’s affection. Back in the old neighborhood once again, however, he learns the hard way that a fresh start won’t be so easy, that he has no choice but to keep his gloves on at all times. While the possibility of migrating seems to offer an opportunity to be reborn, Samuel knows that no matter where you go, the neighborhood is always within you. “In El Chata, by Gustavo Ramos Perales, boxing is the mirror that reflects the hardness of the social context of the urban margins in Puerto Rico. The film reveals part of the social reality of the island and denounces it through a visually striking and emotive cinematographic composition.” –Jennifer Duprey, 80 grados

This event is free and open to the public. ID is required to access the building. The conversation will be held in English.