Movie Review: “The Boy From Medellin” Show How J. Balvin Became King
People are human. They have flaws and strengths and the the question is whether fame is the healthiest thing for either. Fame is an amplifier. It can heighten your triumphs as much as your trials because the world is watching, and to act like, as a person, we don’t look back to see how the world sees us would be a lie. For the new J.Balvin documentary, The Boy From Medellin, we see a person analyzing whether owning themselves, necessarily, means owning their power.
Out May 4, on VOD and Amazon Prime, I find The Boy From Medellin fascinating, especially considering that even fictional shows are taking up themes like, the battle between power and person. Moreover, I am obsessed with music documentaries because celebrity life is the fantasy many wish to live. There is something about crying from your “ivory tower“ that feeds our own martyr syndrome or rather desires to live like kings but say we suffered like peasants. It is why we jump on reality tv, Bravo rollercoasters; seeking how the ultra wealthy and powerful truly believe they are the most pained. Yet, J Balvin’s story is about the “peasant” that became a “king,” but still felt like a peasant. His journey is the realization that “the ivory tower” doesn’t protect or purify you from your inner turmoil: I want more but I believe I am worthless.
The film, frankly, is about the ups and downs of depression, and how fame, money, and the hard work it takes to get either can give you a million, happy distractions but never constant peace. That you give yourself! Thus, Balvin narrates his love/ hate relationship with music as he builds career that becomes lucrative, loving, and extremely pressurizing. The sweet irony of fame is that you pray so hard for people to watch and listen to you, but, when they do, you can’t help but want to run and hide. Hence, splashed amongst clips of Balvin embracing the loyalty, pride, and love of his beloved people/ fans, or as I call them “The Balvineros,” you witness a man that loves the people that love him, but ponders how he can elevate them from his own waves of sadness and growing waves of political unrest. “The Boy From Medellin” Show How J. Balvin Became King.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrgz6GrGHxII was very intrigued by how the documentary interplays with Columbia’s current backlash against the oppressive Presidente Duque. While many musicians happily stay away from politics, J. Balvin feels compelled to speak for his people as one of the only Latino/ Columbian voices with a global platform. He has the opportunity to make the world see our honor, talent, and cheer but also our struggles and tears. How to balance both, dueling images is not easy for a man that suffers from depression, suicidal tendencies, and who sees music medicinally as much as professionally. Seeing him trying to figure out how his art/ greatest passion can become political is what truly makes this music documentary stand out.
I started this review with a truth: people are human. Often, we see celebrities say this in response to some public shaming or perceived slam. Yet, The Boy From Medellin makes this truth palpable. Matthew Heineman paints Balvin like an Arthur that pulled out the sword from the rock through sheer determination, but never fully understood that such an instance would lead him to be The King of Medellin, and what it meant be an artist/ ruler in a country desperate to change how it has been ruled.
