Page 30 - aruba-today-20190423

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 23 april 2019
'La Llorona' movie promotion with Mexican healers draws fire

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS limpias before my movie co said. He called the ex-
Associated Press screenings," publicist Na- perience "overwhelmingly
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) hir Wold wrote San Diego- positive."
— A promotion around based curandera Grace Wold did not immediately
the movie "The Curse of Sesma in an email. "Let me return emails and phone
La Llorona" using tradi- know if this is something messages left by The Asso-
tional Mexican healers for you would be interested in ciated Press.
"spiritual cleansings" before doing!" Tonita Gonzales, an inter-
screenings of the horror film Sesma said she ignored the nationally known curan-
is drawing strong criticism invite until she started see- dera based in Albuquer-
from healers and scholars ing photos of purported que, called the promotion
who say the stunts are of- limpias at screenings on- an "outrage and an appro-
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Jaynee- fensive and demeaning. line. That angered her and priation" of Mexican Ameri-
Lynne Kinchen, left, and Linda Cardellini in a scene from "The
Curse of La Llorona." Leading up to the Friday she posted the email on can culture.
Associated Press release of the movie based her Facebook page. "The limpia is a cleansing
on a Mexican folktale, War- "I found it quite shameful," that helps people see the
ner Bros. invited healers Sesma said. "It heightens holy that's within them,"
known as curanderos to the fear factor around a Gonzales said. "To us this
give audiences cleanings traditional practice and to promote a movie, espe-
called "limpias." The studio commodifies and exploits cially during (Easter Week-
also dispatched Cuban- our culture just to get peo- end), is disturbing."
born, Los Angeles-based ple to see their movie." The production hired
healer Salvador Gata to But Miguel Franco, a curan- curanderos as consultants
"bless" an audience before dero based in Los Angeles, to make sure the curande-
the March 15 premiere at said Warner Bros. wasn't ro in the film was portrayed
SXSW at The Paramount looking for stereotypes accurately and with sensi-
Theatre in Austin, Texas. when the studio invited tivity, Warner Bros. officials
In addition, photos posted him several times at various said. The studio declined
on social media show im- events for the movie. further comment.
ages of supposed heal- "Working at press junkets, Anthropologists believe
ers providing ceremonial offering my services to peo- curanderismo remained
cleansings in front of post- ple from all walks of life, in- popular among poor La-
ers of "The Curse of La Llo- cluding several well-known tinos because they didn't
rona," then celebrating as if people, influencers, and have access to health
attending a party. media has allowed me to care. But they say the field
"I'm working on the movie share my gift with people is gaining traction among
La Llorona and am look- who normally would not those who seek to use al-
ing for a curandero to do have sought me out," Fran- ternative medicine.q

Daniel Norgren rakes politely on trippy,

bluesy set

Trippy, edgy and daring, In its own sweet time.
Norgren's first international As the first cut fades into
release makes the case "The Flow," a regal bass line
one more time that cross- and cymbals give way to
cultural exploration re- gentle, chord-based pia-
mains the most fertile fron- no, followed by the most
tier in popular music. restrained electric guitar.
It is fresh, rough-edged per- What comes next is a re-
fection. markable run of original
Norgren's music, described songs filled with innovative,
in promotional materials blues-based surprises.
This cover image released by as "shredding in the most Norgren sings of trains and
Superpuma Records shows
"Wooh Dang," by Daniel Nor- polite way possible," is a John Wayne movies in
gren. raw mélange of coarsely what could have sounded
Associated Press elegant vocals, gently dis- trite but is somehow magi-
torted guitar and piano cal here. The lyrics almost
By SCOTT STROUD set against a backdrop of don't matter. They are in-
Associated Press unhurried bass and drum- struments in the sound-
Daniel Norgren, "Wooh ming. scape he's creating — one
Dang" (Superpuma) The opener, "Blue Sky more sign that Norgren has
Daniel Norgren's devotion Moon," is a three-minute done something distinc-
to American roots music blend of one-note mood tive, different and new.
is undisguised on his latest intonations, chirping birds Recorded in a farmhouse
work, "Wooh Dang." But the and gentle strumming. Get in Sweden, this is the kind
Swede with the big Scandi- past that. It might be art of low-idle Americana that
navian following is anything but there's not much to it. calms the spirit.
but a copycat. The brilliance is yet to come. Lie back. Take it in. Listen.q