Chavela (2017)

Embarking on a vividly evocative journey, 'Chavela' propels viewers into the iconoclastic world of a game-changing artist, Chavela Vargas. Known as an enthralling raconteur, Chavela was a master at spinning tales, infusing them with life, and sculpting them into her reality. The film maps her astounding journey, from a 14-year-old runaway rejected in Costa Rica, to a world-renowned, Grammy-winning Mexican icon. 'Chavela' is an exploration of a woman who dared to carve her unique path in the world. This riveting portrait is illuminated through never-before-seen interview footage, shot two decades before her death in 2012. Guided by the narratives in her music, the myths spun about her, and the ones she wove about herself, the film paints a magnetic image of a woman who defied norms and dreamed her unique existence into being. Chavela was a trailblazer, carefully constructing a public persona as a mighty, rebellious outsider, a seductive outlaw who defied convention and social expectations. Although she didn't publicly reveal her sexual orientation until she was 81, her free spirit and unapologetic lifestyle enthralled the world. She gathered fragments of who she was and who she aspired to be, weaving them into a mesmerizing reality that lasted until her departure from the physical world at the age of 93. In 'Chavela', the viewer is invited to witness the captivating tale of a woman who embraced an extraordinary life, defying the ordinary and etching her vibrant identity into the annals of history. It's a compelling exploration of a life lived on one's own terms, daringly and unapologetically.

Chavela is a documentary movie featuring Chavela Vargas.

Chavela is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy, Plex, Plex Player and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video and OVID.

It is also possible to buy Chavela on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube or rent it on Spectrum On Demand.