The story itself is a clichéd love story in troubled times. It is just like a textbook, and various classic elements can be clearly seen in it. The class difference, the turmoil of the family and the country, the poor boy falling in love with the rich girl, the dilemma between family affection and love. This story is simply too easy to make a dog-blooded eight-point file. The good thing is that the creator did not play it up, and the emotions are everywhere, leaving you with the wonderful Cuban music and the passionate Salsa.
During the filming process, I always recalled the memories of Cuba and Salsa. In that humid and hot island country, everyone is a master of Salsa. When I was in Trinidad, I happened to encounter the local carnival. A huge stage was set up on the garden square in the center of the town. After nightfall, people gathered and twisted to the deafening music. Cuban women have a unique way of twisting their bodies, which attracts uncontrollable gazes. Fortunately, I am not a man, or I would be a little embarrassed to keep staring at someone’s ass. Cuba is the birthplace of salsa. After taking a class and stealing a teacher from the street for a few days, I was able to twist a few steps decently. Later, I danced with the staff in the Youth Hostel bar in Mexico City and got a hearty tune. People asked me: "It's not your first time to dance salsa, right?"
I laughed and didn't answer.
When Chinese people talk about salsa, the adjective that is most likely to slip past their lips is probably "enthusiasm." Enthusiasm is actually an imported term. The ancients would not use "hot" to describe feelings. The Chinese say "Peach Blossom Lake is a thousand feet deep", and "The friendship between gentlemen is as pale as water." Describing "good" with "hot" is a concept derived from Western civilization. Cuba's heat is extraordinary. Not only is the weather hot, but the atmosphere is also hot. The French would call it "Joie de vivre", which means the joy of life.
To dance well in Latin, one must understand the joy of life. The heroine Katy in the movie is the daughter of a pair of former professional dancers. She has been dancing Latin on the back of her father's feet since she was a child. It's okay to watch the video of her parents dancing back then (oh no, 16mm film). Latin dance is dominated by male dancers. However, huacai is all on female dancers. For girls to learn Latin dance, it is very important to have a good partner to lead them. Katy's family background, in fact, should have a good foundation. She was praised by the dance coach in the film, but the actor Havier sneered at her dance style.
"You are too stiff, like a wooden board." Havier said.
Just feel the music.
Of course, Havier would dislike Katy's rigidity. The girl's dancing posture is technical and soulless, and the backboard is straight and beautiful, but there is no flowing vitality.
When Katy appeared in the film, she was the kind of traditional, studious, old-fashioned, conservative, and excellent girl. She was a child of someone else's family and would be bullied by other girls because of her excellent grades and her conservative behavior. Katy missed the school bus because she was mischievous. She was speechless and unfamiliar and could only walk around on the street, so she met Javier outside the hotel, and met the real Cuba and Salsa.
She was immediately attracted by the dance that she had never seen before, and I believe she was moved by the surging vitality in it.
Katy followed Javier's suggestion to watch "Real Cuban Dance" at the Black Rose Ballroom. This film was made beautifully. Human limbs flow like water on the dance floor, full of teasing and desire, but they are naturally just right. This clip makes people miss Cuba very much.
I only really learned to dance in Cuba.
Of course, I used to visit Fragrant Street or Montparnasse’s nightclubs when I was a guest in Paris. I thought my dance skills were not bad, but I had a lot of distracting thoughts. I was always paying attention to what others would think of me. Isn't the beauty too much like a lunatic? There are moments of ecstasy when you are in a good mood, but most of the time, I dance for others.
This is not Cuba. No one in Cuba cares if you dance like a crazy person. Everyone exaggerates and releases themselves. Everyone is a capitalized me. There is an absolute self in the dance. You dance yourself, yes. Your body's interpretation of music in every moment.
In the movie, Javier told Katy that dancing is to be who you are in this moment.
Not only that, every time Javier touched Katy's body during dance practice, Katy would avoid him, and the two eventually broke out in a quarrel. Katy did not admit that he was afraid. Javier said, if you don't admit that you are afraid, let's stop jumping.
The dance of two people is a dialogue between the bodies, an exchange, and it is also like a relationship in love. Katy’s non-fear is the denial and escape of his own emotions. If you don’t let go to feel the true self, you can't feel it naturally. There is no way to talk about communication with dancing partners. When dancing Salsa, trust in your partner is very important. Let go and follow his lead, believing that he can pull you back when he throws you away, go without hesitation, and welcome the time with enthusiasm. The crisper the separation, the stronger the limbs, and the more a thousand words when the reunited bodies collide.
At the beginning of the film, Katy appeared by the swimming pool wearing a long-sleeved sweater, her body language was full of unconfidence and uncomfortableness. The eighteen-year-old girl was a flower, a flower that contracted inwardly. In a scene shortly thereafter, Katy interpreted the Odyssey in class and said: "Because Athena wants him to find strength and... courage?" Somewhat uncertainly, softly and carefully, "Courage?"
Finally, she said. Wearing a suspender skirt, he completed a stunning dance in front of everyone, bending over, spinning, holding himself, hugging and kissing.
When teaching Katy to dance in the sea, Javier said that Salsa was a dance invented by slaves, and it was an expression of freedom.
If you want to open yourself, if you want to tear off the shackles on your body, embrace the true life and self, if you want to bloom.
Go to salsa.
Postscript:
I wrote this article loosely and disorderly, with a messy structure, but maybe this is its most suitable look, whatever you want. After all, it is Cuba, after all, it is salsa.
Salsa in the article refers specifically to cuban style.
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