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Las marimbas del infierno: A love for music and tradition

Araceli Calva Translated by Morris Thompson

It becomes a perfect vehicle for exploring the hearts of Alfonso and Black, both of whom center their lives on music and the musical instrument they appreciate.

Las marimbas del infierno, which is competing in the Mexican Feature Film category in the 8th Morelia International Film Festival, is a fake documentary starring actors without previous film experience.

It tells the story of Alfonso, a messenger who plays the marimba. Accustomed to doing his show at one of the most elegant hotels in Guatemala City, he's sad that his musical instrument is being forgotten by the public, which sees it as passé.

Alfonso has a lucky meeting with Black, a physician by profession and pioneer of underground heavy-metal rock. he two decide to join forces and create "Las marimbas del infierno," which quite definitely draws a variety of reactions from people.

At a press conference, the director said his movie is about "three people who want to make music in Guatemala and the problems that ordinary people have. " He said it doesn't fit in a specific category or genre.

Speaking of the lack of film experience of his actors, Hernández Cordon said that inviting ordinary people to unwind in front of the camera in order to interpret a character is nothing new.

"The relationship of cinema with non-actors began a long time ago with Italian Neo-Realism, and then with Iranian film," he said. "There aren't actors with film experience in Guatemala," adding that his players had done "very well."

 Hernández Cordon said that he made his movie that way because it's the kind of film he himself likes. The use of a Guatemalan setting let him work the story the way he did, he said, in a natural style with no pretense other than showing three characters in their daily lives.

The director said he admires his actors and highlighted the case of Black, a physician who can't practice because he has tattoos, long hair and wears dark clothes, yet loves being a rocker above all else.

"He doesn't give that up because it's what makes him happy," Hernández Cordon said. "He may not have money, but he's a person who's content and faithful to his principles, and that really makes me rock 'n' roll."

Las marimbas del infierno stars Alfonso Tunche, Roberto González Arévalo and Víctor Hugo Monterroso.