The official synopsis of the film Barefoot', which opens on February 14 in theaters, by the hand of Bosco Films y A Contracorriente Filmsgives enough clues about the documentary. "Who taught the bird to sing?", he launches into the air, for reflection. "'Descalzos' plunges into the silence that music awakens", and "uncovers the history of the group that has baffled the music scene, going through their creative process and delving into the Life that moves them".
"When man dares to take off his shoes, opening himself to the Truth," he continues, "the music that springs forth is like an unstoppable arrow that reaches the heart of the person who dares to put himself in range. Life was the question; music, the answer," he says in a somewhat cryptic way, which is best understood by watching the film.
"When something is true."
Hakuna Group Music's music producer, Iñigo Guerrero, says it on several occasions in the film, and he also says it commented these days, reflecting on the keys to the success of his concerts with thousands of people. "When something is true, it's attractive."
That is one key to the boom of Christian music in Spanish, as seminarian Luis Sierra explains in Omnes magazine this month: "The spiritual restlessness that the artists manifest explicitly, their own relationship with God", living life "with bare feet", "killing indifference", as the lyrics of the song that gives the film its title say.
The songs of "Hakuna Group Music, a formation linked to the movement The songs of the same name have become one of the most listened to in Spain. 'Huracán' was a hit at the World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon in 2023. Indeed, on Spotify alone it accumulates almost 340,000 monthly listeners.
"Bare feet, bare soul."
This same week, at the conclusion of the preview of 'Descalzos', several of the attendees, particularly those from the HakunaFor example, the founder himself, the priest José Pedro Manglano (Josepe for his friends), asked me if I liked the film. I guess as an audience, because I am not an expert in cinema.
Against the backdrop of bare feet, "the naked soul" (as some said in the movie), I thought there could be no deception in the answer. The truth up front. And I told them what I really thought: that I had liked it a lot, even a lot, and that I had rested and enjoyed it, both things, which is no small thing in these times.
But it doesn't hurt to know what you're going to see. Neither with this or with any movie. In my family, a bit scattered by age, we don't go to the movies much, because cell phones and series have taken over. So, without spoilers, it's good to know beforehand if you're going to be offered a cachopo, a steak, or a sea bream.
Music that gets through the cracks of the soul
That is, if we are going to see an action movie, or a play with a beginning, middle and end, or a serene and calm documentary. Well, 'Barefoot' is the latter. At heart, 'Barefoot' is a comprehensive report on Hakuna, its genesis, with music that slips through the cracks, and real personal testimonies. No special plot, interesting and simple. Magnificent photography and splendid nature.
I stood in the back row. The preview audience was varied, but, with a few exceptions, not young people, and from what I could see, with people who appear in 'Descalzos', such as Agueda, an ALS patient, and her family.
And so the film by director Santos Blanco, known for Freeon monastic life. From inside to outside, from inside to nature, from the Holy Hours of adoration of God to music.
"It's something else."
With real testimonies. Javi Nieves (Cadena 100), the aforementioned Iñigo Guerrero, Manuel Alejandro, a wise old flamenco singer, a nun cured of cancer, a theologian, members of Hakuna, and so on. Without identifying themselves even with a sign, bareback. Confessing, showing their amazement, telling their story, their relationship with transcendence, revealing the soul. "Music can change the world because it can change people", that's what they say.
To be honest, it is not technically a documentary about this musical phenomenon, although it is popularly referred to as 'the film about Hakuna'. ' It's something else, has written a critic who usually hits the bull's eye. That's it. And to reiterate: the photography and sound are superb.
In addition, there are always songs like "Sencillamente", "Olor a tostadas", "Un segundo", "Noche" or "Dime Padre", the aforementioned 'Huracán', and of course, 'Forofos' (fans)with its message of unity.
