The last member of the Parra Clan will portray his unknown but rich life as a lyricist, comedian, circus artist and popular singer-songwriter in a 45-minute medium-length film.

An unmissable activity is the one that the Extension Directorate of the University of La Serena has prepared for this Thursday, July 10, a day in which the medium-length film “El Parra minus Parra”, the work of Óscar Parra Sandoval, will be announced. , better known in the artistic and circus field as “Tony Canarito”. The film directed by visual artist Jorge Catoni and produced by Milton Izurieta, in just 45 minutes, seeks to portray the life of “Conchito de los Parra” in an “old-fashioned look.” The presentation is free of charge and will take place at 19:00 p.m. in the Aula Magna Ignacio Domeyko ULS, located at Benavente 980, La Serena. 

Óscar Parra Sandoval, comedian, lyricist and popular singer-songwriter is the youngest of the first generation of the Parra Clan and despite carrying with him one of the most important surnames nationally and worldwide, he is the least known member of this talented family. However, his artistic career of more than 60 years has been linked to the circus show and folklore, imbuing him with his particular stamp of “huachaqueo, chuchuleo and tintoleo” that has led him to perform on various stages in our country, whether in Beginning as a folklorist (“El huaso Parra”), he later separated himself from his last name, but not from his guitar, and continued his route in the tents under the pseudonym “Tony Canarito”.

In his circus role and with the artistic and musical virtue that characterizes this family, Óscar invites the public to see his medium-length film “El Parra minus Parra.” “I am Óscar Parra the youngest, brother of Violeta, of Roberto the great chucheta, of Lautaro, Lalo, Hilda, Elba and Nicanor and that is why with love I play the guitar and in the name of our country, Óscar Parra greets you,” points out that at 84 years old and being one of the Parras who remain alive - along with the anti-poet Nicanor - he resists retiring. Today, Oscar “Tata picarón” Parra is determined to disseminate his artistic career “No matter what!”, which has led him to manage his own medium-length film despite his delicate health.

This documentary will be presented for the first time in the city of La Serena under the lens of director Jorge Catoni and the production of Milton Izurieta. Bringing this medium-length film to the Coquimbo Region, through the Extension Directorate of the University of La Serena, is a great opportunity for these two professionals and colleagues. “It is super good that it is presented and that it is in the context of being shown through a University, I am interested in it being that way because it has the most educational function,” stated the director of the film.

Likewise, Catoni added that this project, first, would be based only on an intimate compilation of Óscar Parra's artistic career, in order to leave a record of his career, but later the decision was made to publish it. “Don Óscar only wanted to leave a record of his work, nothing more. In fact, first of all, the project was so unpretentious that he said he wanted to leave it as a gift for his children and grandchildren. We did all this by launching it (…). He only had the desperation to leave a record, already at his age, 80 years old, he saw that he had little left to live and he had to leave something before he died,” stated the visual artist.

“El Parra minus Parra” seeks to end the anonymity of “Tata picaron” through this film. For all those who wish to meet the youngest and the second living member of the great Parra Clan, the ULS Extension Directorate cordially leaves the community until next July 10.