Movie Review: Favela on Blast

Favela on Blast is the highly anticipated documentary debut by DJ/Producer Diplo that gives you an inside look of Brazil’s slums (Favelas) and the music genre baile funk/funk carioca that has been bubbling beneath the favelas for over twenty years now. Funk Carioca (meaning funk from Rio) is a musical rhythm that mixes American electronic funk of the 80′s with the most diverse influences of Brazilian music. In the documentary the very lively music and the subculture surrounding it, is captured through the eyes of Diplo and Brazilian filmaker Leandro HBL. I’ve watched the trailers several times, looked pretty promising to me, and couldn’t wait to watch the whole thing. I am very lucky to get my hands on the documentary as it doesn’t release on Mad Decent until July 20.

The Bad:

Let’s start off with the bad, shall we… Well, there wasn’t much really. If you’re lazy like me and don’t like reading captions it might bore you a bit. The first time I watched this I was dying for a narrarator. I can’t keep up with the text when there’s outrageously sexy party clips on screen in front of me. And yes, I’ll admit I was hoping for some Diplo footage that somehow got squeezed into it. If you were hoping for that too well, there was nadda.

The Good:

If you like bass, booty, and party this documentary is for you. I am not a big funk carioca fan and the greatest film critic but I like to think that I’m safe by saying that the documentary showed a real genuine portrayal of the favelas, the sound, and the party scene. There was a well balance of interviews of DJs/MCs and party goers and highlight clips of the craziest parties. I had no clue who most artists were when being interviewed. I Youtube’d most of them and have made up a new fave playlist for my iPod. The party footage is ridiculous and wild as I watched the thousands of locals all squished into one dancehall. Damn, the Brazilians look fun to party with. The parties get packed quickly as most of the parties are cheap and or free. The highlight performances by the local artists looked so fun and entertaining. If only it wasn’t for the local drug dealers throwing the baile funks and the reputation of being so dangerous, I would’ve book the next flight to Rio to ppaarrttyy.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, Pitchfork will have the doc up on July 9, for preview, but it premieres July 20th for the public . And for those of you who can’t get enough of Diplo, he’ll be back in the city for this year’s Time Fest on July 23 at the Sound Academy. Maybe some funk carioca in his set? I hope so!