FINALLY! A Good "Dominican" Movie

[Guatiao]

Since it's Academy Awards night I have decided to post a film about Dominican culture that is actually well made, and will be released in limited release on April 3 in NY & LA.

The story follows baseball player Miguel "Sugar" Santos and his journey from DR slum to minor league prospect, and the culture clashes, etc. that he experiences. I don't want to give too much away, but it definitely is not about "beisbol." Actually I found it shocking that I liked a film that included baseball as a backdrop. This is a character based movie and the script is really well written; I don't know if the actor is a professional or what prior works he had done in the past but it is really quite surprising, I mean it doesn't have star power yet they accomplished a well-crafted movie.

Check out the official site and the trailer:
SUGAR || A SONY PICTURES CLASSICS RELEASE

Hopefully Oscar Wao will also be this good.

BTW I did find it a bit cliche-y at times, but hey I can't be too picky.

 

[Berzin]

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

Can't wait to see it.

 

[jrhartley]

I asked about this film but got no reply- I think it was first released at a canadian film festival in 2008 and is now due for general release.........there is also one called change up or cambio with a baseball theme that I cant find either... which looks good

 

[suarezn]

I just watched Yuniol and I thought was pretty good. Not sure they have an English sub-titled version though. It dealt with real issues and the characters were all based on characters that exist in our society. It also had some funny parts (mostly dialog) without resorting to the usual slapstick Dominican humor.

Also it looked pretty polished for a Dominican made movie.

I also recently watched "Ladrones a Domicilio" which also deals with a lot of the things that go on in The DR...mainly the corruption existent at all levels and I thought while the topic was good they could have done a much better job at presenting it without again resorting to somewhat slapstick humor. I'm surprised how unpolished Angel Muniz's movies still look, for a guy who's been making movies for a while now.

 

[Ricardo900]

I just watched Yuniol and I thought was pretty good. Not sure they have an English sub-titled version though. It dealt with real issues and the characters were all based on characters that exist in our society. It also had some funny parts (mostly dialog) without resorting to the usual slapstick Dominican humor.

Also it looked pretty polished for a Dominican made movie.

I also recently watched "Ladrones a Domicilio" which also deals with a lot of the things that go on in The DR...mainly the corruption existent at all levels and I thought while the topic was good they could have done a much better job at presenting it without again resorting to somewhat slapstick humor. I'm surprised how unpolished Angel Muniz's movies still look, for a guy who's been making movies for a while now.

I've watched both movies (Yuniol 2 & Ladrones a Domincilio) loved them both, Yuniol 2 was very moving showing the different cultures of the poor and wealthy dominicans and how the well to do dominicans are totally oblivious to the struggles of the poor in the barrios.

Ladrones was just straight up hilarious, hahahaha. Poking fun at corruption with everybody and I mean everbody's hands out looking for their cut in the action.

I also enjoyed "Christiano de Secreto"

 

[jrhartley]

here is the official trailer

looks good - nice music

YouTube - Sugar (Official Trailer) 2009

 

[Big_Poppi2]

Hey, thanks for sharing, I will try to see if I can find the movie also, thanks again and take care, God bless
Alexis

 

[Big_Poppi2]

I live in Los Angeles and I just watched the trailer. Did you say you seen it already??? where did you see this movie. It says its not schedule for release till April 3rd here and in New York??? thanks for sharing too the trailer looks very amazing hope I can wait that long to actually watch it and with the world Baseball classic starting I would think they would want that attention and relase it sooner. okay thanks again. God bless,
Alexis

 

[Mr_DR]

looks good - nice music

YouTube - Sugar (Official Trailer) 2009

I see my girlfriend ALINA VARGAS from SANKY PANKY is also in that movie.
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[rortiz79]

I saw this and got soo happy when a friend of mine sent me a link to the trailer. I dont care if it isn't made by a dominican, but it has real dominicans playing the part. I even put it in my blog and a few lil words bout it. I hope it comes out super.

 

[Golo100]

I can't believe that there are people out there, except those who constantly watch TELEMICRO who think these Dominican made films are any good. This stuff is strictly for the uneducated masses. It's all slapstick at its very worst. The so-called actors are the same self-proclaimed comedians who toil Dominican TV midday, Saturdays and Sunday nights. I have never drawn a laugh from one of these "comedians". Their jokes are mostly political or sexual-oriented with doble-sentido. Most jokes cannot be deciphered by foreigners because they are mostly Dominicanized with local folklore and politics. It's not the same as if you make an Obama or Bush joke. Who the hell knows who these characters are anyway?
The 3-stooges with their mindless humor can still run miles around Dominican humor.

 

[rortiz79]

I can't believe that there are people out there, except those who constantly watch TELEMICRO who think these Dominican made films are any good. This stuff is strictly for the uneducated masses. It's all slapstick at its very worst. The so-called actors are the same self-proclaimed comedians who toil Dominican TV midday, Saturdays and Sunday nights. I have never drawn a laugh from one of these "comedians". Their jokes are mostly political or sexual-oriented with doble-sentido. Most jokes cannot be deciphered by foreigners because they are mostly Dominicanized with local folklore and politics. It's not the same as if you make an Obama or Bush joke. Who the hell knows who these characters are anyway?
The 3-stooges with their mindless humor can still run miles around Dominican humor.

You know what? I know what your talking about and have always wanted for us Dominican's to shy away from just those type of jokes. It get sold quick. Make it also see like we can't do anything else right. Hopefully more Dominican made movies come out that aren't comedies. On the Dominicanized jokes, that's a given and I don't think tha'ts going to change because we usually don't care if someone else doesn't get it