Feminism, fore-shadowing & feathers in Cafe Con Aroma de Mujer

LAPL celebrates Latinix Heritage month from Sept 15-October 15 (Search Latinx on LAPL website)  Interest in Hispanic culture shouldn't be limited to a mere month.

Besides reading Hispanic authors (from Ilan Stavans' lectures on early 1600's DON QUIXOTE to 21st century writers like Isabel Allende), am binge-watching favorite classic telenovelas seen years before, now streaming on VIX based on radio-novelas/books LA MENTIRA, CORAZON SALVAJE & CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER. 

Looking for something "new" to watch during production gap caused by Hollywood Writer & Actor Guild strikes?  I highly recommend series mentioned above, along with one described below I'm currently re-watching based on Fernando Gaitan's book with five page prologue by former President of Colombia (the country, not the university).   

 

Briefly (tho it's so much more) story follows young woman migrant harvester with big dreams, who with hard work, brains, imagination and integrity, works her way up to become highly respected delegate from Colombia at coffee industry summit in London.  Much of CAFE's production staff were also women, stressing feminist message and viewpoint unusual for the time.

 

(Note:  "Amparo"--which means help, assist, support--is female name in Spanish, like Consuelo and Rosario.  On CanelRCN Chapters are 43 minutes, not 20)

Example of heroine's courage and initiative:  although it's not in her job description & is rebuffed by corporate bureaucracy, she creates project to fill need she perceives is unmet by employees only do what is explicitly ordered. 

Advising her night-school computer teacher:  "Don't think about how much you'll get paid for your work.  Think about where it will take you", she helps him to also get a better job.  (Be prepared to jot down other insightful dialogue!)       

 

If you enjoy classic movie romances like HIS GIRL FRIDAY with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, you should try watching original 1994 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER.  Remade a number of times, this is considered by far the best, with wonderful songs performed by leading lady who'd been married to Colombian musician Carlos Vives who sings title song on Disney's ENCANTO. 

 

Her real-life father plays hero's uncle; real-life wife to be of leading man (who has 3 sisters in real life) plays Susanah (symbolic flower name, Spanish for lily), secretary of moral ruler Avellaneda, who with white beard, resembles artist depictions of biblical God the Judge.   

Avellaneda is also name of famous feminist Cuban writer whose anti-slavery novel SAB predates UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.)

Chapter 33 gives overview of coffee industry, from cultivation and processing to Wall Street world market.  Currently re-watching part where Gaviota is assistant manager of international coffee export corporation--owned by family of young man with whom she has romance that's the stuff of legend.  I'm laughing my head off at their antics; such a cute couple!  

Fun bilingual scene at cocktail party (Ch. 64?) with guests from around the world, where wealthy young General Manager skillfully spins story in both English & Spanish to fend off women attracted to someone in his powerful position.

Even if you don't know much Spanish, actors are so expressive you can understand much by just watching their faces & gestures, tone of voice.  If you've studied the language, Vix includes subtitles in Spanish.  Such an enjoyable way to learn!  

See other blog posts that had previously appeared as Borrower Reviews on LAPL catalog of DVD'S for CASABLANCA & WIZARD OF OZ (cover with Emerald City towers) as well as CORAZON SALVAJE & LA MENTIRA for comments on how films seem imaginatively transformed in classic telenovelas, like Shakespeare used many sources as inspiration for his own plays.  Explanations below contain info unlikely to be found elsewhere--at least in English.

Some people refuse to watch even film classics made in B&W rather than color, not being what they're used to.  (Eye-opening book READING THE SILVER SCREEN by Thomas C. Foster may address this prejudice.)  

Younger viewers may also be dismissive of movies or other media that take place in time they're unfamiliar with.  This seems to lack logic to me, as many among insular audience will watch fantasy films & TV set in worlds far, far away, like STAR WARS or GAME OF THRONES.  

Scenes set in Big City business world on CAFE may have intentional exaggerations of contemporary fashions, done like deliberate lack of perspective used in artwork of Ancient Egyptian or European Middle Ages to emphasize important figures such as royalty.  In CAFE, may also indicate people puffed up in their own importance, but are really small in soul, perhaps a little like English idiom "stuffed shirt". 

Unsure if "losing one's shirt" is meant by bare-chested fist fight over raising workers' wages to level fiery tempered coffeegrower can't afford if he loses--but it's entertaining, tense yet amusing with twist end.      

(NB:  cigarette smoke may be symbolic, a tiny FIRE, song "smoke gets in your eyes", hidden lies, environmental pollution paralleling moral corruption like in LA MENTIRA.  Protagonists in that story--like those in CAFE--are mythic figures (Prometheus, Demeter, Gaia, Athena) bringing fertility to earth, leading to rebirth and renewal of a healthy community. 

 

Ch. 78 has memorable family Christmas get-together, with most attendees wishing they were elsewhere--tho viewers will find it fun--and stubborn estranged lovers' fight at public party ends in kisses and fireworks. 

BTW, his hairstyle is partly because "years later" in story, he lets it grow longer, loose, free and unkept, like that of woman he loves on the day they first met.  

  

October 17 is important date in CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER, the day when young lovers promise to meet back at hacienda CASABLANCA to marry.  Unforeseen circumstances prevent this, but it seems necessary delay planned by Heaven.   Oct. 17 is also day women got vote in Mexico, as well as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 

Before he returns to finish final year at university in London, Sebastian gives his wristwatch to Gaviota for her to keep as momento during TIME they will be apart. (He literally crosses off the days "as time goes by".) 

She gives him music cassette that becomes sound-track of their lives.  Another of her songs gives clue to follow in pursuit thru coffee festival parade-clogged streets.

With addition of a few notes & rearrangements, this post had previously appeared as LAPL Borrower review around Sept 28, 2023 under title "You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss" quoting famous song in 1941 film CASABLANCA.    

Bohemian artist Marcela (our hero's favorite sister) has Black boyfriend she met in PARIS.  Like heroine Gaviota, tho first scorned by matriarch who values illustrious ancestry, loving and lovable Harold McClean--who is first seen on Christmas, Christ's birthday--becomes savior of family who owned coffee empire. 

Name Olivares means olive tree, is symbol of goddess of wisdom Athena.  Dove also brings olive branch to Noah as sign of hope and peace between God and man.  Among biblical references may be name of hero's sister Paula (like St. Paul, she first persecutes, then joins the underdog).  

Might be a stretch, but name of psychologist--who may use Jungian interpretation--is Daniela Rios (river/water), reminding me of New Testament Daniel who interpreted dreams.  In her office are prints of Van Gogh's sunflowers & 20th century surrealist painters.  

Print of Picasso's portrait of Dora Maar is in her apartment (chosen as tribute to actress who plays Cecila or for another reason?)  And then there's all the symbolic bottles & decanters Freud would have a ball with...  Comments in these posts are often stream of consciousness style, wherever thoughts drift.

Harold (Hark the herald angels sing) is from island of San Andres, where since 1821 every child born there was declared free, abolishing slavery.  Independent minded Marcela has no interest in inheriting family's wealth.  One of Marcela's great lines: "Grandma, I'm a pacifist.  But there's nothing more violent (dangerous?) than an angry pacifist."

Cafe's male lead, "Marcela" & blond "Sir Arthur" also co-starred in previous telenovela based on classic Colombian novel LA OTRA RAYA DE TIGRE by Pedro Gomez Valderrama.  Trio already being friends may explain believable closeness in Cafe.  Rottweiler seen on screen is actor's actual pet, named for a character in story, blurring fact & fiction presented in story.  

BTW, compare not very common names Marcela & Bernardo--cousins in CAFE--with minor characters in Shakespeare's HAMLET, more support for my theory that story is in part "Hamlet on the hacienda".

 

Heroine's given first name is Teresa, but she prefers to be called Gaviota after her favorite song about a high flying seagull.  Her mother urges her to "aterriza", come down to earth, stop dreaming of impossible seeming goals.  But tho her wings may get broken, girl keeps trying to soar. 

https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/joan-miro-icons-symbols/ explains "Birds are the icons in (Joan) Miro that connect reality & dream, because they can fly, but also touch the ground."  Famous Emily Dickinson poem:  "Hope is the thing with feathers".

Green real parrot is seen 3 times (possibly another pet of actor in real life) when Sebastian hands off to Aurelio, later foreman hands to his wife, then before she leaves unfaithful husband, Lenore is seen holding it alone.  Spanish word "pajaro" (bird) is also slang that seems to have similarity to English expression "flipping the bird", refering to male body part also beginning with letter "p".

"Yellow bird" in Miro painting seen in office of General Manager in CAFE EXPORT is on wall near photo of Vallejo patriarch Don Octavio & song Sebastian sings a bit of in English:  "up high in banana tree".  Likeable Sir Arthur, professional coffee taster from London (also Paula's ex), flits like a hummingbird from flower to flower sampling female population of Colombia, is at first dubious about his pal's claim he has only been once with only one woman in the entire world, heroine of story "seagull" Gaviota.    

Maybe you can follow Sebastian's explanation in Spanish. "Mi problema no es fisico.  No es psicologico.  Mi problema es con el amor.  No entiendes que yo no puede estar con alguien que yo no ame y que no me ama a mi.  Yo no estoy buscando a Gaviota para satisfacer pasiones repremidas.  Ya tiene un amor completo, un amor balanciado, algo perfecto." 

In situation like future Queen Victoria's uncles rushing to wed in race to inherit the throne, Ivan "the Terrible" marries Lucrecia "Borgia" to beget heir bearing family name as stipulated by grandfather's will in order to control family fortune; a sure thing he thinks as other grandsons are gay or seemingly impotent.  

Tho closest that hero has to a brother, Ivan's extreme lack of respect for women disgusts younger man.  This turns out may be root of problem finally cured by a pure and perfect love.  

 

From opening scene of story, look for colors used both in combination and as contrast:  Gaviota wears pure bridal WHITE in her first appearance.  RED (Fire/Sebastian), BLUE (Water/Gaviota).  BROWN may be coffee or earth.  ORANGE may be related to plant plague "rust" (roya in Spanish).  

Pastels versus dark shades may reflect strength of emotions.  Ivan's mother Angela may dye her gold hair black to show she's gone over to the dark side, allowing Ivan to entrap other son in schemes

Sebastian wears sunshine yellow shirt during his tour de force, literally "dark night of the soul", raging against the dying light at his seeming destiny to be last of his lineage, losing only woman he can love.  In Ch. 85-89, he is beach bonfire, and the sun, Gaviota is blue ocean.  Flag of Colombia is yellow, blue & red (see Wikipedia). 

Couple spend day at the beach & go scuba diving among lovely sea life.  (Actor's oldest son in real life has degree in marine biology .)  After seeing beach body, got to commiserate with Lucia over "out of order sign" fig leaf.  He plays guitar & sings "Aroma de Mujer" (still serenades real wife, see videos on his Instagram account)

On topic of seashore & amor, SI DIOS ME QUITA LA VIDA is classic song & title of telenovela; lyrics "eres tan mia como la playa de la mar".  When lovers go to Cuba (where actor grew to adulthood), blazing Caribbean sun I remember from childhood hits eyes even thru TV screen.  2 albums soundtrack by singer/actress Daniela Roma doesn't have all the classic songs from story following "nice girl" who becomes radio & cabaret torch singer from 1930's to 1950's. 

      

Secondary colors may combine symbolic meanings of two primary colors.  Purple/lavender is blend of red & blue.  Is pink color of romance, love?  ("Novelas Rosas" is Spanish term for romance novels.)  Sun YELLOW and BLUE water make GREEN leaves of coffee plantation. 

ORANGE is mix of yellow and red, might be colors of both Sebastian & his grandfather Octavio.  In opening of story, Carmenza wears bright orange head scarf.***More on ORANGE at end of post.

Mystery of relationship hinted from beginning of story between latter & Octavio will eventually be revealed, I think after secret codicil to his will is opened four years after his death.  (Disney's ENCANTO seems to refer to this "imposible love", among other allusions to classic telenovela to be listed in a future blog post.)   

Note details:  In Christmas scenes, Lucia carries around clown doll, finally calls herself "boba" (idiot/clown), she'd also worn baggy pants.  Ingenuous Harold is called similar word "saltimbanqui" (jester?) after performing trick he learned in India.  

Lucia's androgenous look with slicked back hair & man's style suit is worn around time she says husband treats her like a male school friend/room mate.  So hilarious when, oblivious to Lucia's reactions, he peels off as if in a boys' locker room. 

What Lucia does next reminds me (tho situations are very different) of Veronica's facetious reply to sullen "Que quieres?" during newlywed's first night at hacienda in LA MENTIRA.  Can't quote or translate here important words to know, but in context is ROTFL.  Demetrio's tormented posture against door HE closed between them resembles depictions of St. Sebastian.  This is one of great scenes cut from 2 DVD set, so you've got to watch full version of LA MENTIRA on Vix!    

While re-watching (worth multiple viewings), am noticing foreshadowing.  Sebastian jokes about his family "passing sentence" on him, holds hand like taking oath--his real trial is later.  Cold Lucia invited Sebastian on first date to see Polanski film fest; one shown has lots of snow (Dance of the Vampires?)  Viewers then likely recalled another by same film maker, Rosemary's Baby, related to upcoming story event.  When mismatched couple played tennis, game ended with them running from light sprinkle of rain (representation of Love). 

LA MENTIRA also has tennis game; Spanish tennis term "sudden death" is used before Demetrio questions player about his brother who had just committed suicide.  In both CAFE and LA MENTIRA, clothing, home decor, etc. using floral prints or city's rigid lifeless grid-like designs can signal what characters or associations  are death-dealing or life-giving.  Bogota apartment where baby may be conceived (lots of red candles seen about that time!), nutured, grows up, has several paintings of large fruits.  Look, listen for clues adding deeper layers of meaning.  

 

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 Fixation on only the actions in plot can lead people to ignore other important elements, what famous readers' advisory librarian NANCY PEARL (she's got her own action figure!) calls "the four book doorways" she explains in March 16, 2012 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY article--character, setting, and language.  

Below is meant as PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS rather than "spoiler".

Tho I seem to recall Gaviota, furious at what seems act of betrayal, will call Sebastian her "roya", another character--a self-centered human leech--is responsible for actual spread of the plant rust plague.  In a brilliant plot turn, "disaster" will in fact provide way to surmount what Pamela Regis calls (in her scholarly book  A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL explaining the eight essential narrative elements for the genre), "the barrier" that keeps lovers apart. 

Solution to problem cleverly overcomes decree that "the land cannot be sold or given away" meant to insure it will remain in control of males bearing family name--and incidently, thus continuing to separate rich from poor, "elite" from "Los de abajo" (title of famous Mexican 1915 book & 1940 film about society's underdogs).

When Lucrecia is concerned that ascension of receptionist to executive secretary, then to assistant manager, has something to do with her husband's frequent infidelities, Gaviota assures worried wife that her own goals have nothing to do with pursuing a man to maintain her--instead, she plans to maintain man of her choice by herself. "Lucre" later tells Paula & Lucia she trusts her, but such an independent female seems "a little strange".

There are big changes ahead for all the wives and husbands in this story about what marriage should truly be.