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Gritona

Natalia Valdebenito

Comedy Dynamics · 2017 · 76 min

A sarcastic, high energy stand-up set targeting Latin American double standards.

Natalia Valdebenito does not ease her audience into the room; she commands it with a loud, direct style of stand-up that treats the absurdities of machismo and modern dating like a personal challenge. Recorded at the Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago, Chile, Gritona serves as a historic milestone for Chilean comedy. Valdebenito was the first of her generation’s underground stand-up scene to sell out the historic theater, capitalizing on a career-defining performance at the Viña del Mar Festival earlier that year where she won over a notoriously tough crowd.

The set targets the hypocrisies of double standards, casual dating, and the rise of contemporary feminism in Latin America. Rather than keeping to a strict monologue, Valdebenito leans into her theatrical background, utilizing a mix of crowd interaction and scripted theatricality. She also integrates brief sketch and musical interludes, inviting comedian Nathalie Nicloux on stage alongside her supporting troupe, Las Orcas Asesinas. Released on Netflix in late 2017, the special went on to solidify her as one of the country’s most prominent comedic voices. The performance was later preserved on a vinyl release to commemorate its impact on the local scene.

The set list

2 bits
  1. First meeting with the boyfriend's mother

    Explores the awkwardness and gender expectations surrounding meeting in-laws with candid irony.

  2. Casual dating and modern female sexuality

    Depicts women as active, uninhibited participants rather than passive observers in dating and sex.

How it plays

Tone
Ironic, provocative, empowering, humorous, and raw.
On stage
Irreverent, outspoken, bold, direct, and unapologetic, challenging traditional Hispanic stereotypes with a powerful feminist voice.
Pace
Intense, provocative, and highly dynamic.
About
gender discrimination in Latin America, modern feminism and female oppression, casual dating and relationships, shattering traditional female stereotypes, machismo and violence against women

What the critics said

Praised as witty, hilarious, and bold, combining sharp social commentary on taboo subjects with charisma and strong improvisational timing.

In the room: Enthusiastic and packed sell-out crowd at Teatro Caupolicán creating an intimate and electric atmosphere.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: elmostrador.cl, allmovie.com, filmalist.com, primevideo.com, programacionendirecto.es, comedydynamics.com, elpais.com.

Backstory

Performed in a conservative Chilean socio-political climate marked by high rates of femicide, total penalization of abortion, and nascent street harassment legislation, positioning Valdebenito as a leading public voice of modern feminism.

Details

Released
Taped
2016, Teatro Caupolicán, Santiago
Runtime
76 min
Where
Comedy Dynamics
Director
Natalia Valdebenito
Topics

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