2007, Spain/Venezuela
Adventure, Crime, Drama, Romance
This ain't Steve Martin's Cyrano de Bergerac. Director Alberto Arvelo moves Edmond Rostand’s 19th century play into the slums of Caracas for Cyrano Fernandez and a bit closer to its roots with a dark storyline.
As much as the ramshackle houses stack on top of each other in the city's shantytown, so too do the daily troubles of its people. Devastated by crime lords and drug kingpins, many are merely trying to survive from one day to the next.
Cyrano Fernandez is the town's go-to man. Muscle-bound and intimidating, the scars across his face are proof that he has seen the worst of the city, and it would be easy to assume he is part of the problem. Though he always carries a gun at his side and uses it to encourage conversation, the end nearly justifies the means. This Robin Hood for his people has been known to hijack a gardening truck in order to bring water to the thirsty masses.
Leader of the well-meaning gang, the Tupanmaros, they look out for the little people by taking on the big thugs. Though their intentions are sincere and they attempt to dissuade violence without violence, the constant battles of their lives lead to a disastrous gang war with a corrupt police force.
Despite Cyrano's dauntless courage and flawless reputation, his facial disfiguration prevents him from being wholly truthful to the people he loves, namely his lifelong affection, Roxana. When heartthrob Cristian moves to town to escape trouble in New York, Roxana declares love at first sight. Fulfilling his hidden desires, Cyrano helps Cristian woo her with thoughtful text messages and even a balcony scene for good measure.
Unlike Roxanne's dimwitted ladies' man, this film's Christian is intelligent and shares the peace-seeking view of the titular character. Yet the fact remains, the girl loves the words, and the words are not his. Cyrano Fernandez follows the play's tragic conclusion -- fitting to a place where Cyrano declares 150 die each weekend.
Caracas native Edgar Ramirez (The Bourne Ultimatum) perfectly fills the mold of the heroic romantic. Able to express stoicism to his enemies and compassion to his shantytown family, Cyrano is portrayed with the perfect dichotomy for a soldier of misfortune. As the weak fight the power hungry, they will occasionally lose despite their best efforts.
In this way, Arvelo does not attempt to create a fairy tale in the slums, but rather allows a ray of hope enter cracks of a broken wall. Cyrano Fernandez is an excellent adaptation for a harsh reality.