FAIT VIVIR is a documentary film made over a six-year period by Colombian filmmaker Oscar Ruiz Navia. Through the eyes and voice of Manuk, a five-year-old boy, the film tells the myth and dreams that fuel the Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra, a Montreal-based group created by GIROVAGO.
GKO is an adventurous and extraordinary collective that propels a movement of freedom.
The narrator’s imaginative—and at times even fantastical—perspective allowed the director to subtly interweave documentary footage from GKO’s tour in Colombia (2014) with the staging of a performance created specifically for the film, as well as various moments from the artists’ everyday lives.
“I wanted to make this film,” says director Oscar Ruiz Navia, “because since I first met the group several years ago, I understood that translating their sonic and visual performance to the cinema would be a deeply moving and enriching experience for audiences—an opportunity to grasp its essence. (…) I admire their talent, their passion, and above all their daily sacrifice. (…) I am deeply moved by the way they have held on to their art, in an act of resilience, in order to flourish within a new society.”
FAIT VIVIR was part of the official selection of the documentary competition at the Biarritz Latin America Festival (France, 2019). It was also showcased at the Bogotá International Film Festival – BIFF, Colombia Viva (Colombia, 2019), the Bogotá International Documentary Exhibition – MIDBO (Colombia, 2019), and the Cali International Film Festival – FICCALI, where it won the Audience Award “Cali, Open City” (Colombia, 2019). The film was also selected for the Transcinema International Film Festival in the “Resistencia” competition (Peru, 2019) and the UNAM International Film Festival – FICUNAM, “Atlas” Section (Mexico, 2020).
In 2022, the film was screened in Montreal at the Latin American Film Festival at Cinéma du Parc.
“…Dancing, singing and partying was once forbidden in a lost tropical town…” This is how the show MAKONDO begins. Makondo was created by GKO, an original company of musicians, dancers, actors and circus artistes based in Montreal. Fait Vivir tells us the myth of this, out of the ordinary band, through the eyes of Manuk, a five-year-old boy. His imaginative and poetic perspective interlaces documentary material of the band touring through various villages and cities of Colombia, with the staging of the show. The fantasy of the narrator also allows us to know closely the daily life of the creators and the dream that feeds this adventurous project that propels movement and freedom.
CREDITS :
With
MANUK AUKAN MEJÍA RUIZ
ANINA IXCHEL MEJÍA RUIZ
CARMEN RUIZ NAVIA
JUAN SEBASTIÁN MEJÍA AKA Perditi
Featuring
GYPSY KUMBIA ORCHESTRA
Carmen Ruiz Navia: Dirección General
Juan Sebastián Mejía AKA Perditi: Dirección Artística, Percusión, Voz
Anit Ghosh: Dirección Musical, Violín
Aurélien Tomasi: Dirección Musical, Clarinete, Saxofón, Gaita
Zilien Biret: Clarinete, Gaita, Voz
Zeneli Codel: Violín
Blaise Margail: Trombón, Beat Boxing
Eli Camilo: Trombón
Chantale Urbain: Acordeón
Laurence Sabourin: Acordeón
Ivan Bamford: Percusión (Tambora)
Maxime Ethier: Percusión (Alegre)
Sergio Barrenechea: Percusión (Alegre, Redoblante)
Dorianne Fabreg AKA Doba: Voz, Percusión (Llamador)
Omar Díaz: Percusión (Llamador)
Rachel Thérrien: Trompeta
Guillaume Garant: Trompeta
Bertrand Margelidon: Trompeta
Julie Richards: Tuba
Christian Leclerc: Tuba
Sonia Bustos: Danza
Andrea Niño: Danza
Catherine Días Barrera: Artista Circo
Javier Andrés Nosa Hernández: Marionetista
Séverine Sandrine Elsa Berthias AKA Pichotte: Marionetista
Jaiya Oliver Fabreg: Adolescente
Juan Salvador Jamirez Díaz: Niño
Joy Richard Gerhard: Niña
Karine Lachance: Acompañante
Marcelo Arroyave: Cronista
Adelaida Pardo: Fotofija
Annie Béliveau: Apoyo técnico
Aparición especial
Toño García Gaitero
Profe de percusión de Cartagena
François Laundry
Némo Venba Babin
Céline Chevrier
Julie Houle
Alvaro Cabrera
Remberto Zúñiga
Una producción de
CONTRAVÍA FILMS
En coproducción con
TELEPACIFICO & PRODUCTIONS GIROVAGO
Dirección
Oscar Ruiz Navia
Asistentes de Dirección
María Alejandra Briganti
Lony Welter
Producción Ejecutiva
Oscar Ruiz Navia
Ana María Ruiz Navia
Carmen Ruiz Navia
Natalia Rendón Rodríguez
Asistente de Producción Ejecutiva
Gladys Cecilia Navia
Productores Asociados
William Vega
Andrea Estrada Gutiérrez
Sofía Guzmán
Catalina Torres
Coordinadora de Producción
Ángela Trejos Collazos
Asistente Coordinadora de Producción
Juan Gaviria