Chico & Rita is an animated film directed by Spanish Oscar-winner Fernando Trueba, along with Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando. An exquisitely drawn story of love inspired by the life of Cuban maestro Bebo Valdés, Chico & Rita takes audiences from the famous Tropicana club in Havana to the Pleyel club in Paris, to Radio City Music Hall in New York to Village Vanguard and Palladium. The film has been nominated for a 2012 Academy Award in the category of Best Animated Feature Film, and became the #1 per-theater-average of any film in release after premiering at Angelika Film Center in New York on February 10.
Its extraordinary soundtrack is a musical journey into the best of Latin music and was recorded with Bebo Valdés (Chico) who played the piano and led some of the collaborations in this album. Bebo Valdés along with other legendary singers and songwriters (Consuelo Velasquez, Tito Puente, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie) developed an exceptional score comprising of 30 original pieces that wrap the film from beginning to end. In addition to Bebo Valdés, greats such as Estrella Morente (performs “Lily”), Freddy Cole (brother of Nat King Cole), Jimmy Heath and Idania Valdés (Rita) appear on the soundtrack.
Chico & Rita has won numerous awards and prizes in Europe, including the Spanish Premio Goya in 2011 for Best Animated Movie. The soundtrack also won the 2011 Latin Grammy for Best Recording Package, which was put together by Javier Mariscal. The film will be opening in other cities weekly (schedule below), and the soundtrack is available at retail and for digital download. For more information, please visit ChicoandRita.com.
Chico & Rita Theater Opening February 10 – Premiere
New York, NY – Angelika Film Center
February 17
San Francisco, CA – Landmark Theaters
Berkeley, CA – Landmark Shattuck Cinemas
Mill Valley, CA – Smith Rafael Film Center
San Jose, CA – Camera 12 Cinemas
Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma City Museum of Art Oscar Showcase
February 24
Philadelphia, PA – Landmark Ritz at the Bourse
Chicago, IL – Gene Siskel Film Center
San Diego, CA – Landmark Ken Cinema
Minneapolis, MN – Landmark Theaters
Seattle, WA – Landmark Theaters
Detroit, MI – Landmark Main Art Theatre
Tucson, AZ – The Loft Cinema
Portland, ME – Movies at the Museum, Oscar Showcase
March 2
Boston, MA – Landmark Kendall Square
Pickford, WA – Pickford Film Center
Albuquerque, NM – Guild Cinema
Northampton, MA – Pleasant Street Theater
Austin, TX – Regal Arbor Theater
March 9
Los Angeles, CA – Landmark Nuart
Phoenix, AZ – Harkins Valley Art
Houston, TX – Sundance Cinemas Houston
Denver, CO – Landmark Theaters
Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Downer Theater
March 16
Miami, FL – Coral Gables Art Cinema, Regal South Beach
Portland, OR – Regal Fox Tower
Ithaca, NY – Cinemapolis
Colombus, OH – Gateway Film Center
Madison, WI – Sundance Cinemas Madison
Dallas, TX – Angelika Film Center Dallas
Olympia, WA – Olympia Film Center
Washington, DC – Landmark E Street Cinema
March 23
Ft. Worth, TX – Ft. Worth Museum of Modern Art
Atlanta, GA – Landmark Midtown Art
Charlotte, NC – Regal Park Terrace
March 30
Nashville, TN – The Belcourt
Iowa City, IA – The Bijou
Santa Fe, NM – CCA Cinematheque
Bend, OR – Regal Theaters
