Jonathan Ali talks to Yoel Morales, Dominican Republic director of Bachata Bionico
Bionico is a crack addict on a mission. With his girlfriend La Flaca scheduled to be released from rehab, Bionico vows to make a fresh start.
With the help of his best friend and fellow junkie, the irrepressible Kalvita, Vionico embarks on a series of reckless schemes to live happily at home with his loved ones, all while the documentary film crew… captures his every move.
Located in the vibrant neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, bionico bachata It’s an energetic and original film. A fictional film with elements of reality, it embraces scatology but treats its subject matter with respect, finding moments of genuine humor, pathos, and even grace in often dark situations.
Bionico is a memorable character, someone who constantly struggles against hardship on the fringes of society, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and his iconic comic book character, The Little Tramp.
Jonathan Ali I talked to bionico bachata‘ director Yoel Morales (who produced the film as part of the creative collective Mentes Fritas) talks about their frenzied creation.
How did the film begin?
It all started in 2016 when I met the real Bionico and Calvita. We were drawn to the deep friendships they had and their upbeat attitudes despite difficult circumstances. As I spent time with them, I got to know their backgrounds and was fascinated by the visual possibilities and local identity that could be expressed through it.
The film is a mockumentary, meaning it is fictional, but in the form of a documentary. Why this shape?
When I first started making films, I wanted to work in a more classical style, influenced by the aesthetics of the Coen brothers and other directors. However, each time I tried something, something always bothered me. Everything felt too manipulated. So I started leaning towards realism.
and Bionicowe tried to write the script as standard fiction, but we weren’t convinced. We understood that there were a lot of story rules to follow, and what we wanted was the freedom to do whatever we wanted with both the writing and directing. We wanted to create a unique space where we could play with fiction and reality, mix everything and push the limits to the maximum.
How did you cast Manuel Raposo for the role of Bionico?
When I saw Manuel in a play based on a story by a Dominican author, I immediately knew he had to be Bionico. He was playing a peasant who has to fight for his beloved’s father’s approval. Manuel’s way of expressing his emotions was very gentle and innocent, yet very noble, which was exactly the quality I was looking for in a bionico.
Additionally, Manuel has a series of gestures that I always find funny. I worked with him for a year to build the character, establish the tone, and most importantly, establish the humor. The comedy had to come from the situation, without being deliberately sought for. It was also important that Manuel did not fall into stereotypes and mock or satirize Bionico.
You made the film with the community in which it is set. What was it like working with them?
We were happy that the community not only worked on this project both in front of and behind the camera, but also empathized with what we were capturing. Many times we heard them say things like: Finally, it felt real. ”When they sensed something was wrong, they stepped in and let us know. I remember a man who appeared in one of the scenes where Manuel had to smoke. He approached me and showed me the stylish way to smoke a crack pipe properly. He was obviously completely right.
Denbou music, derived from reggaeton, is integral to the film’s soundtrack and style.
I’m a big fan of Denbou. It’s the most popular youth music and comes from deep within this neighborhood. It is uniquely creative because it is always in an experimental stage and allows artists to create debouquets from literally anything. We felt that what we wanted to achieve was similar to Denbou’s song. We wanted this movie to feel like it starts with an unruly debacle and ends with a smooth bachata. Enramada (It’s a country bar).
bionico bachata (2024)
Director: Yoel Morales
Dominican Republic • 80 minutes
