(YO NO ME LLAMO RUBEN BLADES)
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 8:00-10:00pm Robin Theatre
For directions, please click HERE.
Genre: Documentary, Short, Family
ABOUT THE FILM
Abner Benaim /Panama/2018/85 min
English and Spanish with English Subtitles
Latin American icon Ruben Blades, whose “thinking man’s salsa” has earned him praise as the Bob Dylan of Latin America, was at the center of the New York Salsa revolution in the 1970’s. His socially charged lyrics and explosive rhythms brought Salsa music to an international audience. Blades has won 17 Grammys, acted in Hollywood, earned a law degree from Harvard and even run for President of his native Panama. Featuring electrifying footage from his final tour, a lively and candid walk through his Chelsea, New York home and neighborhood, plus testimonials from such icons as Paul Simon, Sting, Francisco “Bush” Buckley, and Junot Díaz, Ruben Blades is Not My Name is a testament to a rare talent whose restless heart has indeed helped change the world.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Abner Benaim studied International Relations and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and later film directing at Camera Obscura, Tel Aviv. In 2004, he founded Apertura Films, an independent production company, in his native Panama, where he is considered a pioneer filmmaker. His first feature, Chance (2010) was the first film to be theatrically released in Panama in 60 years, and was seen by over 500,000 spectators. Invasion (2014) was Panama’s first submission to the Academy Awards and had an audience of 50,000 people in local theaters. Ruben Blades is not my Name has also been Panama’s submission to the Academy Awards. Among other films, he directed the documentaries Empleadas y Patrones (2010), Good Vibes (2003), and Round Trip to Panama (2002). Benaim’s films have been selected at prestigious film festivals such as SXSW, IDFA, HOTDOCS and True False, and have won multiple awards as well as critical acclaim. Benaim’s work deals with social issues and touching personal stories told in an unceremonious, sometimes humorous and irreverent tone.
MSU Latinx Film Festival 