In Flamenco at 5:15, teachers Susana and Antonio Robledo take us back to the essence of flamenco, free of the castanets, the brightly colored polka-dot dresses and the multiple ruffles, the folkloric image in which it is too often confined. At once a musical genre, a type of dance, and a rich culture, flamenco carries the life of a people marked by many heartbreaks, but who always stand tall, and proud. In this respect, director Cynthia Scott leads us, like the students in the class, to an understanding, step by step, of some of the fundamentals of flamenco culture and dance. The film reveals a fascinating contrast where two opposing worlds meet. In contact with their teacher, Susana, the students, accustomed to ballet's softness, restraint, and delicateness, slowly try to instill emotion, strength, and ardor into their movements. These seemingly simple, rhythmic foot strikes and elegant hand rotations only become significant when they are felt, imbued with grace and affirmation. Swaying between the more serious dances such as the seguiriya and more festive ones such as the bulería, the students broaden their horizons, guided by Susana and Antonio who invite us to partake in the journey.

Anik Salas
Filmmaker and president of Réalisatrices Équitables