Cuba feliz

The anatomy of a people spills out of their music and onto the streets of Cuba in this simple road movie. El Gallo, "the rooster" troubadour singer travels through different parts of Cuba, welcomed by old and new friends alike. No "interviews" or story line of the conventional sense, just heartfelt bravado and slice-of-life charisma flows out of the instruments and vocal chords of these musicians. Its not the destination but the journey that matters in this film.

There are a few poignant scenes: one scene, older musicians improvise songs with ease in a kind of musical cipher called a changui, when a younger kid/ rapper tries to jump in the mix with a few lines but he's not really allowed to continue. Another musician explains tradition to him: in order for the the younger generation to truly learn the music and how to improvise in a changui, they must listen first. The kid reluctantly concedes, but manages to sneak in a few rhymes to be "tested out" in his protest. In another scene, a 70+yr old trumpeter peacefully performs his morning stretching/mediation ritual, trumpet in hand.

Hey, if you're going to watch a devoid European filmmaker explore (and envy) the rich vitality of a people, forget about Buena Vista Social Club folks! At least Dridi leaves Cuban music to the Cubans...Surely not a groundbreaking film but an enlightening journey all the same.

Miguel Del Morales is a happy musician that is seen traveling from Havana to the eastern end of the island, as he pays a visit to the place where some of the best music of Cuba originates. In the process, he takes us along to meet his friends and people that have a lot in common with him as they all speak the same language: music!

Karim Dridi, a French director, welcomes us aboard to follow Miguel, better known as El Gallo, as he arrives in Santiago, a traditional place where some of Cuba's best musicians were born. Miguel, a man in his seventies, seems to be much younger than his years because he has the right attitude toward life; Miguel lives to make music and is right at home jamming with strangers.

We are shown different people Miguel meets along the way. There's always laughter and the beautiful music everyone seems to have a passion for. Thus, we are taken to hear Mirta Gonzalez, a woman of a certain age, but who shows more energy and joy than many others half her age. There is also Pepin Vaillant, a man who plays his horn and gets a lot of beautiful sounds out of it. There is Parsan Mallet, another old timer who plays the traditional son. Even the new generation, like the rapper Eulises Sanchez, has some nice harmonies for us to hear. Zayda Reyte, has an impromptu session as she answers her door to find musicians that are there to serenade her and she joins the traditional song one hears.

The film doesn't make any political statements. "Cuba Feliz" is indeed a loving look at a place where most of its people rely on music to get them through their day; they are poor, yet most of the people one sees in the film are truly rich in tradition. The music seems to be their subsistence and what nourishes their souls.