In 1992, director Catherine Gund met the legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, and took it upon herself to film the experience with a video camera. Rediscovering the footage, Gund has stitched together a fascinating cinematic tapestry about Chavela’s incredible career. With interviews with the singer’s many admirers, fellow performers, and featuring brilliant concert footage, we see the young Chavela scandalizing the world with her beautiful voice and masculine attire, which she displayed with a cunning verve.
The lover of Frida Kahlo (and others), Chavela unapologetically lived her life to the fullest, until alcoholism derailed her career, albeit temporarily. Recovering, the sober Chavela was no less bold, fashioning a second career in her 70s that took the world by storm. “[A] justifiably laudatory 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
Press
”’Chavela’ is a vivid portrayal of an artistic, social and sexual rebel whose difficult but finally triumphant life finally proved that there sometimes really are second acts in showbiz lives.” - Screen International
”Loaded with concert footage, interviews with friends, and terrific photos, this well-balanced documentary directed by Gund and Daresha Kyi celebrates the woman and the legend, and if the stock archival material doesn't always fit, few will mind. - Variety
Directors’ Biographies
Catherine Gund: Catherine Gund, the founder of Aubin Pictures, is an Emmy-nominated producer, director, writer, and organizer. Her media work focuses on arts and culture, HIV/AIDS and reproductive health, the environment, and other social justice issues. Her films - which include Born to Fly, What's On Your Plate?, A Touch of Greatness, Motherland Afghanistan, Making Grace, On Hostile Ground, and Hallelujah! - have screened around the world in festivals, theaters, museums, and schools; on PBS's Independent Lens, Discovery's Planet Green, and the Sundance Channel.
Gund's most recent project, Born to Fly pushes the boundaries between action and art, daring us to join choreographer Elizabeth Streb and her dancers in pursuit of human flight. Her multimedia project What's On Your Plate?, is a fun and provocative documentary about kids and food politics, accompanied by a curriculum, website and workbook for families. She is also currently co-directing and co-producing Dispatches From Cleveland. She lives in NYC with her four children.
Daresha Kyi: Daresha Kyi is an award-winning filmmaker and television producer with over 25 years in the business. After working in the New York City independent film community, she decided to attend film school and became a member of the scholars program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she graduated with a degree in Film & TV. She also won a full fellowship from TriStar Pictures to attend the Directors Program at The American Film Institute (AFI) based on her multiple award-winning short films. She wrote, produced, directed and co-starred in Land Where My Fathers Died with Isaiah Washington. She also served as executive producer of the award-winning short, Thugs, The Musical! starring David Alan Grier and Margaret Cho. Most recently she was a field producer on Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and the writer for the weekend morning talk show Arise & Shine, hosted by Richard Pryor's daughter, Rain. Daresha has produced television for WE, AMC, OXYGEN, E!, BRAVO, and FUSE among many others. She is also currently co-producing Aubin Pictures' Dispatches From Cleveland.
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