Rebellion

(Rebelión)
José Luis Rugeles Graciía | Drama

2022 | 105 minutes | Colombia, Argentina, United States

An intimate biopic of Colombian salsa legend Joe Arroyo, exploring the psychological depths behind his musical genius and personal struggles.

Synopsis

A powerful biographical drama, Rebellion explores the life, legacy, and inner turmoil of Álvaro José "Joe" Arroyo, one of the most influential figures in Latin American music. Set against the backdrop of Colombia’s shifting political and social landscape from the 1970s to the early 2000s, the film traces Arroyo’s meteoric rise from the marginalized barrios of Cartagena to the international stage, where his unique blend of salsa, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and African diasporic sounds would redefine the genre.

At the center of the story is Arroyo’s iconic protest anthem, “La Rebelión”—a landmark in Colombian music history that gave voice to the legacy of slavery and Black resistance in Latin America. In 2018, Billboard listed this iconic song among the “15 Best Salsa Songs Ever.” As the film delves into Joe’s musical genius, it also confronts his lifelong battles with fame, drug addiction, systemic racism, and personal loss.

Rebellion not only celebrates Joe Arroyo’s groundbreaking contributions to Latin music but also examines themes of cultural identity, postcolonial struggle, and artistic resistance. Through rich visual storytelling, rare archival material, and emotionally charged performances, the film offers a nuanced portrayal of a man whose music was a form of rebellion in itself.

Directed by José Luis Rugeles, Rebellion invites viewers to reflect on the power of music as both an artistic expression and a historical force. The film is ideal for audiences interested in Afro-Latin history, musicology, and cultural studies.

Reviews

"It's a gem of movie. One of the groundbreaking forces of the Caribbean music. Cinematic whirlwind." - Latido Films

"The visual power of Rebelión, which employs a dark color palette in contrast to the exuberance of salsa, is manifested in the composition of a series of tenebrist mental landscapes where reality, dream, and imagination blend together to reflect the ambivalent psychology of a talented and tyrannical, deeply complex musician." — El Cultural, El Español

"A captivating biopic that delves into the life of celebrated Colombian singer and songwriter Joe Arroyo, using fiction to uncover the captivating truth behind the man." – DMOVIES

Citation

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Keywords
Rebeion,Rebelión,Rebellion,José Luis Rugeles García,Drama,biopic,biography,Colombia,music,salsa,Joe Arroyo,Music Icon,Angie Cepeda,Jhon Narváez,Roger Duguay,Martín Seefeld,biography,autobiography,biopic,memoir,life history,bio,biographer,biographical,personal account,personal history,diary,personal narrative,sketch,profile,personal letters,letters,journal,personal record,music,tune,melody,hymn,harmony,popular music,rock music,latin music,latinx music,latino music,spanish music,modern music,folk music,soul music,ibero-american music,latin american music,celtic music,flamenco,spanish classical music,classical spanish music,musicals,film musicals,movie musicals,musical films,spanish pop,latin pop,latin pop music,spanish pop music,dance,performing arts,dramatics,music,musical theatre,musical theater,entertainment,performance,performer,performers,dancer,dancers,dancing,musical,pageantry,scenes,live performance,recorded performance,choreography,movement,choreographer,afro latin america,black latin america,afro latino,afro latinx,afro latina,black latino,black latinx,black latina,afro latin,afro-americanism,afro-brazilian,afro-cuban,afro-haitian,afro-colombian,afro-dominican,afro-mexican,afro-puertorican,afro-honduran,afro-bolivian,afro-argentinian,afro-chilean,afro-peruvian,afro-nicauraguan,afro-guatemalan,afro-caribbean,diaspora,slave trade,latin american studies,caribbean american studies,island studies,latin american culture,latin american history,latin american politics, caribbean american culture,caribbean american history,caribbean american politics, latin american languages,latin american and caribbean studies,hispanic american studies,hispanic people,hispanic culture,hispanic politics,south america,south american countries,countries in south america,argentina,bolivia,brazil,chile,colombia,ecuador,guyana,paraguay,peru,suriname,uruguay,venezuela,south american politics,south american culture,south american cuisine,south american education,south america in media,south american languages,south america history,culture,identity,identity politics,culture wars,left wing,right wing,intersectionality,identity groups,civilization,literacy,humanism,cancel culture,online culture,cultural revolution,cultural diffusion,culture shock,popular culture,pop culture,material culture,cultural capital,cultural assimilation,mental illness,therapy,trauma,behavioral health,mental disability,psychology,psychiatry,social work,wellbeing,counselor,diagnosis,mentally disabled,mental incapacitation,mentally defective,mental handicap,mental defective,psychotic break,psychosis,psychoses,mentally sound,questionable mental health,sociology,anthropology,psychology,sociological,sociological perspectives,conflict theory,human conflicts,sociological thinking,conflict perspective,topics in sociology,sociology topics,sociology studies,social studies,people and cultures,human relations,human relationships,cultural studies,culture studies; "Rebellion"; Pragda Films; "Rebelión";
Clips
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Festivals

Colombia’s Selection to the Academy Awards; Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival; Málaga Film Festival; Havana Film Festival New York; SXSW South by Southwest

DIRECTOR: José Luis Rugeles Graciía

NATIONALITY: Colombia, Argentina, United States

YEAR: 2022

GENRE: Drama

LANGUAGE: Spanish

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: Adult, College

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

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