By: Miguel Ernesto Yusty

BURLESQUE is a film starring Christina Aguilera and featuring supporting actors such as Cher and Stanley Tucci. It was a box office hit in 2010 upon its release. Its soundtrack, featuring songs performed by Cher and Aguilera, topped the Billboard charts for 63 weeks. The film is striking because it combines the concept of classic cabaret with the energy of youth, embodied by Christina Aguilera's character. BURLESQUE resonates with audiences because it doesn't strive for grandiosity; on the contrary, it aims to create the illusion that around any street corner, a place like the one in the film could appear and change the life of anyone who dares to visit it.

The film tells the story of a young woman from a poor background who realizes her dreams of becoming a singer and dancer. Unlike other films about performing artists, BURLESQUE acknowledges that everyone has the right to achieve their goals, but only those with the talent to do so will succeed. In other words, it doesn't try to suggest that all young women who want to can become singers; rather, it insists on demonstrating that dreams are limited to those who have the talent to make them a reality.

Although cinema was migrating to digital in 2010, BURLESQUE feels frozen in time, a time when no "computer trick" can compensate for what the artist is incapable of achieving on their own. In other words, everyone has the right to be the best, but few possess the necessary merit. BURLESQUE isn't politically correct because it doesn't believe success is a matter of democracy. But it is gratifying to see someone with Christina Aguilera's talent become the star of a small cabaret where the only thing that matters is being an outstanding performer.