Another entry in the AFI Latin American film festival, this one not a doc but a bio. It didn't pack the seats to the same degree, having only 20+ IMDb votes so far, but it has a great reputation among its viewers, hence my interest to come with my parents.
In 1996, a middle-aged Milagros "Milly" del Rosario Quezada Borbón is depressed and reclusive. For most of the movie, she reflects on her life starting with her childhood move from the Dominican Republic to New York City (when she was nicknamed Cuquita). In her adolescence, she and her siblings performed rock music in the streets, but they found more success by switching to merengue. As the lead singer, Milly is the most prominent band member, and she proves to stay in the line of work the longest.
Much of the focus is on Milly's relationships. Her father has sexist expectations, and her mother eventually leaves. Rafael Vázquez, her manager-turned-husband, doesn't always show her due respect. She spends a worrisome amount of time away from their children. When sister Jocelyn decides to switch to church singing, Milly shows her nastiest diva side.
This may sound like a typical musician biopic, but it has one unusual aspect besides an unpredictable mix of Spanish and English: musical numbers outside of shows and rehearsals. I'm inclined to view them as Dancer in the Dark-style imagination sequences, partly because Milly sometimes envisions her departed grandmother or her childhood self interacting with her present self.
I'd never heard of Milly or even really listened to merengue before. I'm not entirely sure I could distinguish it from other genres. But I know a good singing voice when I hear one, and I can appreciate the liveliness of the songs and dances. Other people in the audience sometimes clapped along, in addition to having audible reactions to funny or harsh moments.
M:QoM won't sell me any albums, yet it was a worthy way to spend 118 minutes. If I don't watch any more of the festival, this will serve as a fine finale.
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