Hello fellow CAJTers,
Yesterday, I saw the most emotionally stirring cinema-related documentary. It's entitled "Les années Arruza" but it is in English and subtitled in French.
Yes, it has the Corrida as the scenery background. Whether we're pros or cons doesn't really matter. It's the story of two exeptional men with two different dramatic destinies. It's the incredible dream of an inspiring movies director named Budd Boetticher who remained blind to Hollywood's spotlights. He wanted to capture "TRUE" emotions and fear. He didn't want to make an Xth movie about Corrida. He wanted TRUE bullfighters and TRUE animals and not any mere stunts men.
The turning point was was his encounter of the very charismatic Carlos Arruza. Budd's movie was going to be called "Arruza". His project was 180° opposit of the Hollywood glam industry. During 10 years, yes TEN years, he fought to make his movie. He faced alcoholism, mental institutions, jail and every other kind of depression just to be able to capture those rare moments of veracity.
I must admit that I cried a lot. Three sequences really moved me. The first, he married a gorgeous actress who loved him deeply. She followed him in Mexico in his impossible pursuit. She was given two major roles in Hollywood but refused to be apart from her man. Budd's heart was broken to see her sacrifice her carreer for him. So, he started drinking heavily in purpose and mess around with other women and did all kind of nasty things so that she dumps him. He preferred to lose her rather to see her miserable with him. The second sequence was when Hollywood tycoons paid under-hand guys to drug Budd and get him back to Hollywood to direct a John Wayne's movie. Instead he was taken in an institution and his alter-ego Arruza rescued him using three pistolleros. The third one is the most moving and you have to watch it by yourselves.
I think I fell for Arruza"s charisma. I just ADORE the way he "directs" his horse. I don't know if there's a biograpphy of this great man.
Look, you MUST watch this documentary about the impossible making of an improbable movie. Yes, sometimes the journey is more orgasmic than the destination. Winks @ ........... .
Here's the link:
http://www.vodeo.tv/12-136-3018-les-annees-arruza.html?visu=3018
Lilly