''Paraíso'' ("Paradise") is a 2003 Cuban/German film. It was directed by Alina Teodorescu.

Synopsis

Using a half road-movie, half documentary style, the film presents work and life of a Cuban band living in Guantanamo, Cuba. The film contains many music clips with well-done subtitles, as well as rehearsal work or live acts. In interview parts the musicians also explain how they develop their song concepts out of difficulties of daily life.

Cast

Yasel González Rivera Gerald Thomas Collymore Rafael Ocaña Creagh Angel Rubio Espinoza Yoannis Méndez Centeno

Musicians

Madera Limpia developed a unique mixture of hip hop /

Rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

lyrics accompanied by afro-Cuban rhythms and traditional music (e.g. Changui). This blend is often referred to as

Latin Alternative Latin alternative, or "alterlatino", is a brand of Latin rock music produced by combining genres like alternative rock, lofi, chillout, metal, electronica, hip hop, new wave, pop rock, punk rock, reggae, and ska with traditional Ibero-Ameri ...

or Rap Cubano. The band name ('clean wood') refers to driftwood used as very basic musical instruments. They sing about youth with no real chances (''Verdad Global''), love affairs (e.g. ''Punto de Partida'' or ''Descarga Fula'', which is about a girlfriend going away with a tourist), or growing crime and unsocial behaviour in their neighborhood (''Sueño Canino'' - A dog's dream). The band presented their music on a tour to Europe in 2005. After their first CD (Paraíso OST) they recorded one more international CD. In Cuba there are also several 'unofficial' or bootleg recordings circulating on the streets, containing more open lyrics than is possible in an official production. German ''Der Spiegel'' called their lyrics 'Widerstandspoesie' (resistance poetry).

Awards

The film gained several worldwide awards, mainly on Latin-American festivals, e.g. * 2004 German Cinematography Award - Editing Award Nomination * 2004 Premio independiente.doc - Asociacion de la Prensa de Cadiz * 2005 AluCine Toronto - Best Non-Latino documentary

References

External links

*
Website of production company, with detailed notes and clips from the film

Band review on NPR music
2003 films Cuban documentary films German documentary films 2000s Spanish-language films 2000s German films {{Cuba-film-stub