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‘Música’ Review: Rudy Mancuso’s Music-Driven Rom-Com Shines for Its Whimsical Idiosyncrasies and Cultural Specificity
In 'Música,' Rudy Mancuso confects a playful coming-of-age story based on his own experiences within New Jersey’s vibrant Brazilian American community.
In addition to starring in the film as a fictionalized version of his younger self, the talented Mancuso — who started out making videos on the now-defunct app Vine before moving on to YouTube and live shows — co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Lagana and, fittingly, also created the integral music. Riddled with post-breakup woes after Haley temporarily ends their relationship, Rudy meets Isabella (Camila Mendes), a new love interest who encourages his dreams of puppetry, at a local Brazilian fish market. A scene halfway through the movie where Haley’s parents — unnervingly manicured status quo-upholding capitalists dressed in white — ask whether Rudy’s mother migrated to the United States legally, confirms that while Latinos are not a monolith, there are certain interactions, misconceptions and loaded questions that resonate with a large segment of the community.
Or read this on Variety
