Dollar Mambo (1993)

During the American invasion of Panama to oust General Noriega, a mambo dancer is raped by American soldiers. Based on a true incident. There is effectively no dialog in this film: ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Leduc

Writers:

Jaime Avilés, Paul Leduc

Stars:

Alejandro Calva, Raúl Medina, Dolores Pedro

Cast

Credited cast:
Alejandro Calva	...	Soldier
Raúl Medina
Dolores Pedro
Litico Rodrigues
Roberto Sosa
Tito Vasconcelos

Storyline

During the American invasion of Panama to oust General Noriega, a mambo dancer is raped by American soldiers. Based on a true incident. There is effectively no dialog in this film: Everything is communicated through dance or pantomime.

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Plot Keywords:

rape

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Details

Country:

Mexico Panama Cuba

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

18 October 1995 (France)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

hard to stop watching

By turns fascinating and dull, this utterly bizarre anti-imperialist musical seems formless at first but turns out to be a pointed surrealist commentary on the U.S. invasion of Panama.

With no dialog besides a peculiar bookend scene of a ventriloquist, the movie alternates between dance numbers and silent vignettes of people going on about their lives. As the movie moves along there is an increasing sense of danger as the movie's politics come to the fore. This is all interesting but the vignettes are generally dull, although the dancing is pretty interesting. The high point of the film is the final extended dance sequence, a brief dramatic piece of dance that becomes increasingly ominous. This sequence is compelling but also rather upsetting, and is the main reason I wouldn't encourage my dance-crazy but squeamish girlfriend to watch it.

I didn't love this, but it is unique and worth taking a look at.