Tinta Roja
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 3
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 On: 2006-05-28
The Peruvian film, "Tinta Roja" follows the trials and tribulations of a journalism student, Alfonso (Giovanni Ciccia), when he is assigned as an intern to a tacky tabloid called "Le Clamor." While Alfonso wants to cover shows, instead that assignment falls to his attractive competitor, Nadia (Lucia Jimenez), and Alfonso finds himself unwillingly assigned to cover police stories. The newspaper editors philosophy is that the stories should entertain--rather than teach--the reader, and so in order to succeed, Alfonso quickly learns to toss aside all sense of journalistic ethics and chase the latest police event, and this includes suicides, car accidents, rapes, etc.
Alfonso becomes the fourth man on the police story team. Van Gogh (Carlos Gassols) is the driver who continually quotes famous sayings in an attempt to bring a sense of philosophy to the random world of crime. Escalona (Fele Martinez) is the predatory photographer, but its the wily Faundez (Gianfranco Brero)--a man who has no sense of shame when it comes to getting a headline--who heads the team. Faundezs motto is to get to the scene, take the grisliest photos possible, and then round up the nearest relative of the victim and exploit them while theyre emotionally vulnerable. While Alfonso is at first horrified by this sort of behaviour, hes soon under the influence of his new mentor, Faundez, and he quickly finds himself chasing and embellishing the tawdriest stories with gusto.
"Tinta Roja" is a very lively, colourful film, with plenty of dark humour, and its strong characters practically leap off the screen. After a very entertaining beginning, the film sags a little in the middle, but manages to recoup by the conclusion. "Tinta Roja" is based on the novel by Alberto Fuguet, and is directed by Francisco J. Lombardi. In Spanish with English subtitles--displacedhuman
by: gradyharp On: 2004-04-26
TINTA ROJA (Red Ink) is an excellent adaptation of Alberto Fuguets novel by the same name that explores the world of tabloid journalism in Lima, Peru. Fuguet, himself a journalist as well as a brilliant Chilean novelist ("The Movies of My Life" etc), has provided an earthy story of a young writer Alfonso (Giovanni Ciccia) who longs to write novels, but sees, as his only entrance in to the writing arena, the job offered to him as a journalist following crime stories for a dingy tabloid edited by Faundez (Gianfranco Brero), a man with questionable scruples and secrets of his own. His philosophy : "News, like prostitution, is learned on the streets." And so our nascent reporter accompanies his boss to sites of murders, suicides, accidents, the drug scene, etc in the violent city of Lima, Peru. He is accompanied by a photographer Escalona (Fele Martinez) who captures the lurid details of the stories Alfonso attempts to stomach. Their driver is Van Gogh (Carlos Gassols, who all but steals this film!) who communicates in quotations both sensitively and hilariously from an international resource of famous people! Attempting to undercut Alfonsos reportage is Roxane (Yvonne Frayssinet), a seductive radio reporter who mingles with our staff in a humorous way. The love interest is provided by Nadia (Lucia Jimenez). The story builds in momentum until our idealistic hero finds himself swallowed up in the yellow journalism and smarmy lies and deceit that produces, only to find his way out with the discovery of his own dark genealogy and the help of his new friends.Fuguets stories are not easy to watch (or read,) as he is unafraid of the underbelly of society. But despite the somewhat excessive depiction of violence and gore, this movie makes its point very well. The pacing is excellent, the acting is excellent, and the ending makes the journey worthwhile. Director Francisco Lombardi is the only major Peruvian director
finding access to the international scene and he is a talent to watch.
 On: 2003-08-08
This Peruvian film shows the reality in the latin-american press, It showed the drama and the typical dark comedy that is used in a sarcastic way against the goverment. The movie was very well made and the actors gave great performances.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-28
This film, listed among Mexican movies, is actually a Peruvian film directed by Francisco Lombardi (who also directed "Captain Pantoja and the Special Service", "The Lyons Den", "Fallen from Heaven", etc). Ths particular release is based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Alberto Fuguet. It deals with tabloid journalism, following the changes of a young journalism student who is an intern at the newspaper.
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