In person: filmmakers Maureen Gosling and Chris Strachwitz

From revered filmmaker Les Blank and El Cerrito-based Arhoolie Records’ Chris Strachwitz (This Ain’t No Mouse Music!, MVFF 2014), Chulas Fronteras (Beloved Borders), is a zesty introduction to Norteña music and the culture that exists along the Texas-Mexican border.

The music is a fusion of traditional Mexican harmonies, German dancehall rhythms, and a little something extra. From soulful, lively dance tunes to political work songs, música Norteña has evolved since the turn of the 20th century into a unique Mexican-American hybrid.

Blank links the music’s spirit and vitality to the strong family bonds of Tejanos. The plight of migrant workers adds a sobering backbeat to this joyous film.

Featuring: Flaco Jiménez, Lydia Mendoza, Los Alegres de Terán, Narciso Martínez, Santiago Jiménez, Rumel Fuentes, Don Santiago Jiménez, Los Pingüinos del Norte, Ramiro Cavazos.

Directors: Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz. Assistant Editor: Maureen Gosling.