“Legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas receives justifiably laudatory treatment. A love letter to a woman whose voice drew forth a song’s every emotion, and whose life as a trouser-wearing lesbian celebrity became an inspiration throughout the Spanish-speaking world.” (Variety)
An evocative, thought-provoking journey through the life of Chavela Vargas, whose soul-stirring renditions of popular ranchera songs made her a beloved, iconic figure in Mexico, even as her androgynous appearance and unconventional life challenged the norms of the day. Centered around never-before-seen interview footage shot 20 years before the artist’s 2012 death, and guided by the stories in her songs and the 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. Featuring Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, who introduced Chavela to international concert audiences in the 1990s.