Paraíso (2003 film)


Paraíso 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 lyrics accompanied by afro-Cuban rhythms and traditional music. This blend is often referred to as Latin Alternative or Rap Cubano. The band name refers to driftwood used as very basic musical instruments.
They sing about youth with no real chances, love affairs, or growing crime and unsocial behaviour in their neighborhood.
The band presented their music on a tour to Europe in 2005. After their first CD 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'.

Awards

The film gained several worldwide awards, mainly on Latin-American festivals, e.g.