(Chile 2002, 96 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)
In this romantic comedy set in 1962 in the stunningly beautiful Chilean port of Valparaíso, a few days before the beginning of the World Cup, Simón, an ambitious photojournalist, is obsessed with creating a seminal fotonovela (a novel illustrated with photographs). Despite many obstacles, Simón and his friends — a colorful group of characters including a Francophile boarding house owner, a Don Juan, and an Audrey Hepburn look-alike — embark on a search for artistic identity and love. In Simón's desperate urge to complete his project, he falls prey to the hands of the producers who force him to betray his ideas, his friends, his love and in the end, himself. Director Alarcón masterfully mixes bright colors and shimmering black-and-white images, brilliantly recreating a radiant, bygone era in this sumptuous visual treat.
   
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Saturday, August 28, 8pm
Film @ International House
3701 Chestnut St. (Philadelphia, Pa) / (215) 895-6575
 
MIAMI
Thursday, September 2, 7:30pm
Saturday, September 4, 8pm
The Tower Theater (in Little Havana)
Presented by CineMia
1508 S.W. 8th Street. Miami, FL 33135
 
BOSTON
Friday, September 10, 8:15pm
Saturday, September 11, 12:15pm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue. Boston, MA 02115 / (617) 369-3306
   
CHICAGO
Saturday, September 18, 1pm
Sunday, September 19, 1pm
Facets Cinémathèque
1517 W. Fullerton Avenue. Chicago, IL 60614 / (773) 281-4114
 
HARTFORD
Thursday, Sept. 23, 9:30pm
Saturday, Sept. 25, 9:30pm
Sunday, Sept. 26, 4pm

Aetna Theater at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
600 Main Street Hartford, CT 06103 / (860) 278-2670 ext. 3142
   
COLUMBUS
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 7 pm

Wexner Center for the Arts
1871 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43210 / (614) 292-3535
   
PORTLAND
Saturday, Oct. 9, 7pm

Whitsell Auditorium - Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Avenue Portland, OR 97205 / (503) 221-1156
For more information visit www.cinematropical.com or call (212) 592-3428