Dame la mano

We just went to see the documentary "Dame la mano" (Give me your hand), part of the Walter Reade Cinema Festival "Dance on Camera".

The film is by Heddy Honigmann, The Netherlands, 2003.
"Many Cuban exiles live in New York City and the Latino neighborhoods of New Jersey. Their native culture - steeped in the sensual rhythms of rumba and "clave" with its Afro-Cuban roots - is as much a part of their lives as the air they breathe and the frijoles they eat. The central charcters in this richly textured documentary - Rafaela, a 62-year-old cook who dances over her stove; Pedro, a Belafontyish mover who makes his living as a gigolo; and gorgeous Karim, a cancer survivor, who credits dancing as her savior - all live for their special night at La Esquina Habanera, a club in Union City, New Jersey that serves as an ordinary diner on weekdays but transforms into the soul of Havana on Sunday night. Here, the individual stories culminate in a vibrant and zestful musical marathon. This marks the New York premiere of the final cut of Dame la mano. Ms. Honigmann was honored with a retrospective of her films at the Museum of Modern Art in September 2003."

I loved the intensity and how real all the characters are. And the realization that you don't really need much to do great music.

Posted by Eider at January 24, 2004 01:34 AM