Institute History
Description
As melancholic and bittersweet as a soulful ballad, Romántico tells the tale of Carmelo and his friend, Arturo, two Mexican mariachi singers who roam the bars, restaurants, and streets of San Francisco, playing for tips from people who think nothing about them in return. A warm, insightful, and moving film, Romántico is tangentially about illegal immigration, United States/Mexican economics, the romántico music of the title, and the subterranean American alien community. But at the heart of Mark Becker's beautifully shot, poetic film are the fundamental love and devotion of a father to his family: his desire above all is to provide them a decent living and a better future.
Full of humanity and heart, Romántico shows us the high cost of survival when battling systemic poverty; the hardship of being an artist when there is no rainbow, and certainly no pot of gold; and the deeply felt significance of family and home.