Ode to Buenos Aires
Tango
Anyone who has ever set foot in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires is overwhelmed by its unparalleled energy. Wideoyster’s filmmaker Alessio Cuomo has produced a cinematic ode to the words of the Argentine poet Andres Bosso: Tango – a Message from the Concrete Jungle.
Duende, that magical Spanish word that gives a name to the beauty of sadness. Duende and tango are closely interwoven: a serious and passionate dance that you dance as if it is your last. According to the Argentine poet Andres Bosso, the tango is a synonym for Buenos Aires. A poetic thought recognised by Wideoyster’s filmmaker Alessio Cuomo.
“From the very first moment I fell head over heels in love with the vivacity, the positivism of Buenos Aires”
Alessio,
what is your connection to Buenos Aires?
“I’ve lived in Buenos Aires for two years,” says Cuomo. “From the very first moment I fell head over heels in love with the vivacity, the positivism of the city. People are open. Ask someone directions and before you know it you’re surrounded by 10 people. I come from a family with South Italian roots, and many residents of Buenos Aires are the descendants of migrants from Southern Italy. The atmosphere here is the same: very outgoing and extroverted. Both old and young make life into a party.”
Where did you live?
“In Palermo, the city’s most vibrant neighbourhood. If you go to Buenos Aires, try to explore the neighbourhoods and immerse yourself in the city.”
“I closed my eyes, listened to the words together with the music and an idea for a film came to me”
What is the best part of the city in your opinion?
“The best part is Buenos Aires itself. Lose yourself in the city for the day, no planning. There are so many cool places, and everybody wants to talk to you. A good place for tango though is Plaza Dorrego, with professional tango dancers, dancing on the square for money, or another awe-inspiring place would be the La Catedral del Tango.”
How did you meet Andres Bosso?
“As well as a poet, Bosso is also the director of Aves Argentinas, [Argentina’s bird protection organisation]. My girlfriend is a birdwatcher. We, therefore, ended up meeting at a lecture where Andres recited his poem Tango from his collection Luz Natural. His brother Jorge Bosso, a famous Argentine musician, accompanied the reading with his piece Tango’s Gedanke. I closed my eyes, listened to the words together with the music and an idea for a film came to me. Afterwards, I asked both brothers if I could get started with the script and music and they said yes, the result being Tango – a Message from the Concrete Jungle. Which you can watch below.”