Chulas Fronteras & Del Mero Corazon / BF-104 VHS tape

Description

N.T.S.C. video tape. TRT: 86 minutes.

New old stock, sealed.

Enhanced by a deeply saturated 16mm film grain, haunting cinematography and a startlingly beautiful soundtrack, there’s a case to be made that 1976’s Chulas Fronteras is one of the best music documentaries ever made.

The movie, which features Tejano music icons including Flaco Jiménez and Lydia Mendoza, was primarily filmed in San Antonio. As such, it deserves credit for introducing conjunto, South Texas’ homegrown musical form, to much of the outside world.

Co-directed by film legend Les Blank and Chris Strachwitz, founder of groundbreaking roots music label Arhoolie Records, Chulas Fronteras — which translates to “beautiful borders” — is a moving and culturally significant time capsule of Tejano music and border culture. In testament to its cultural significance, the movie was entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1993.

– Bill Baird\San Antonio Current