Twinsburg Library Creates Cultural Awareness
For the year of 2016, the Twinsburg Public Library aims to promote intercultural exchanges by educating local Ohioans on Hispanic cultures. The institution is offering a wide variety of services, ranging from in-person Spanish-speaking lessons and online classes in Spanish cooking and culture to collections of Spanish books and Spanish holiday celebrations.
According to the library’s website, “Throughout the year, Twinsburg Public Library will be hosting events for all ages geared towards encouraging others to learn the Spanish language as well as the different Spanish/Latino cultures around the world.”
For a minimal fee of $10, adults can take Spanish language lessons with a Kent State University Instructor for 1.5 hours, at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and 10:30 am on Saturdays this month. Additionally, aspiring speakers can practice for an hour with Volunteer Señora Elena on select Thursdays.
On November, 1, the library will be hosting a Día de los Muertos celebration that includes a presentation by Día de Muertos-Ohio. The organization describes itself as “dedicated to organize, promote, and disseminate the Latino Art and Culture through events that bring the Latino folklore, language, and traditions of communities.”
Aside from these opportunities, individuals can partake in the library’s Spanish Movie Series this October, consisting of three movies: Mambo Kings (rated R), The Book of Life (rated PG), and Pan’s Labyrinth (rated R). The first movie showing took place on Monday, October 10, with the others following on Monday, October 17, and Monday, October 31, respectively. Not only is attendance free, but popcorn and refreshments are provided.
Set in the early 1950s, the Warner Bros. production Mambo Kings, directed by Arne Glimcher and released in 1992, tells the stories of two Cuban brothers who travel to NYC, hoping to revive their careers as musicians. Upon their arrival, they form their own orchestra, naming themselves the “Mambo Kings.” Loving the nightlife, Cesar Castillo, the business manager, basks in increasing fame and female adoration, indulging in a sexual relationship with Lanna Lake. Meanwhile, songwriter Nester Castillo, heartbroken by the marriage of his fiancé María to another man, longs for his homeland and lost love. Pining for her, Nester writes several versions of a popular song titled “Beautiful
María of My Soul.”
Nester soon marries Delores Fuentes; unfortunately, a new country and new woman do not alleviate his yearning for María. As the brothers’ adventures unfold and the Mambo Kings gain popularity, Cesar reveals to his brother the true reason for their move to NYC, heightening a tension between them that threatens to ruin their loving relationship.
The film features American actor Armand Assante (best known for his role as John Gotti in the HBO miniseries Gotti) as Cesar Castillo and Spanish actor Antonio Banderas (the voice of “Puss in Boots” in the Shrek sequels and Gregorio Cortez in Spy Kids) as Nestor Castillo. Co-stars Cathy Moriarty (playing Lanna Lake) and Maruschka Detmers (playing Delores Fuentes) accompany the duo as the brothers’ love interests.
Perhaps the movie’s greatest attribute is the contrast between its two protagonists. Cesar, stubborn and ambitious, strives to make a place for the “Mambo Kings” amongst Latin music’s biggest stars, such as Tito Puente and Desi Arnaz. On the other hand, sensitive Nestor wants only to settle down and open his own small club.
In addition to the characters’ complimentary personalities, the film boasts an authentic assortment of Latin music and talented actors. Antonio Banderas performed excellently, especially considering his unfamiliarity with the English language.
He later said, “I did my first movie, The Mambo Kings, in America without speaking the language. I learned the lines phonetically. I had an interpreter actually, just to understand directions from my director.”
Furthermore, the film addressed relevant topics such as the sacrifices and tribulations of familial relationships and the danger of spontaneous emotion-driven decisions. However, it included only one short scene set in Cuba, limiting viewers’ exposure to the lifestyles led there.
Mambo Kings received a rating of 83% from Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 6.4/10 from IMDb. However, viewers should see the production for themselves. The quality of Mambo Kings, as selected by the leaders of the Twinsburg Library’s “Twinsburg Speaks Spanish” program, should provide an accurate indication of the value of the program’s other offerings. Overall, viewers- especially those intrigued by Hispanic cultures- should not hesitate to spend their time watching Mambo Kings or participating in any of the Twinsburg Library’s other cultural experiences.
