London Screenings of Our Latin Thing on 30th November and 6th December
22 November, 2011Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa) blew us away when we got sent the DVD reissue last month. We even spoke to the director Leon Gast who seemed disappointed that more people in the UK hadn’t seen the film. Well that’s all about to change now that Our Latin Thing will be getting London screenings on 30th November and 6th December.
Our Latin Thing was directed by Leon Gast (When We Were Kings) in 1971, and featured an electrifying performance by the Fania All-Stars during a Thursday night jam at New York’s Cheetah club. It is generally referred to as the most definitive salsa documentary ever made. We would actually go slightly further than that, and say it is one of the best music documentaries ever made. You can read more of our thoughts on the documentary in our Our Latin Thing review.
The Fania All-Stars at this time included Willie Colon, Ray Barretto, “El Cantante” Hector Lavoe and many more of salsa’s greats. In addition the concert footage is spliced with atmospheric street scenes on rubbish-filled stoops and crumbling bodegas in Spanish Harlem, giving an evocative look at Latin life in New York during this time.
The film’s first screening will be hosted by Shook Magazine and Strut Recordings at La Bodeguita, a vibrant restaurant and venue in Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, on Wednesday 30th November at 8pm. They will be serving rice and beans and plenty of drink, trying to get that “El Barrio” block party feel just right.
Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa)
Wednesday 30th November 2011 / 8.00pm
La Bodeguita,
Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre,
London SE1 6TE
Tickets: £5 door / £4 in advance at ticketweb.co.uk
The film will then be shown at Notting Hill Arts Club by Movimientos. In addition there will be live music from Palenke Trio and DJs Vince Vella, Arias and Cal Jader. Details for that screening are as follows:
Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa)
Tuesday 6th December 2011 / 7pm-2am / £5
Notting Hill Arts Club,
21 Notting Hill Gate,
London W11 3JQ
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