Erica Liffredo: Tango of Life

Co-directed by Krista Burāne.

Italy and Latvia unite in this documentary shot in both countries, i.e. a co-production, a true one, where Italy provides the dancing, Latvia the music. A super-skilled editor is needed to connect and Ilaria de Laurentiis has done a great job to avoid “show-stoppers” to give the film a flow, from tango performed in Piemonte to music composed in Latvia. From Claudio and Ivana, to Arturs. And back again. Merging the scenes.

Claudio suffers from the Parkinson disease and performs tango as a therapy with his skilled wife. They organize therapy lessons in Cuneo, in a hall or at their place, where citizens with mobility problems come to dance. Many times to music composed by Arturs (Maskats), a well known and awarded Latvian composer, famous for his tango compositions. He has been inspired by the Italian couple, has visited them, they stay in contact through writing and in the film he goes down to get the inspiration to make a special piece for them. By cutting from the South to the North, with brilliant cinematography, the film describes the process of making the music to the tango – close-ups of the moving feet AND close-up of the two, Claudio and Ivana, showing their love to each other, beautiful it is to watch also of course, as we know, that Claudio, diagnosed 18 years ago, is living a life on borrowed time. One day he will be in a wheel chair.

Carried by the couple’s love to each other, their commitment to the dance – OMG, Ivana has sooo many tango shoes – showing that it is good for the body, and the engagement of Arturs to put down notes for his music, and of course the music itself, as it can be heard and seen in the Buenos Aires that Ivana longs to visit – it is a warm, well made documentary that deserves a good distribution internationally.

Ivana’s red tango dress is ready for the journey to Argentina but is Claudio with his health ready?

Italy/Latvia, 2024, 75 mins.