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Are you getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? Are you in the mood for something different, but don’t know where to start? “Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time” might be just what you are looking for, even if you don’t know it. Don’t expect this DVD to be on display in a special showcase at your local Shop-a-Mart; this is a special-niche documentary that achieves big results with little fanfare.
Los Zafiros were a Cuban band that achieved superstardom in their home country and Europe in a post-Bay of Pigs universe that prevented them (along with a language barrier) from being heard in America. In 1964, Los Zafiros were the second most popular act in Cuba, after the Beatles. Their sound relied heavily on the Platters, but also has a touch of Smokey Robinson’s Miracles, the Drifters, and the Flamingoes. The music takes the traditional American-style doo-wop and stylizes it into something extraordinary by stretching past the typical baion rhythms of American vocal groups, including bossa nova, calypso, mamba, bolero, cumbia, and any other Latin rhythm you care to name. The DVD concentrates on the story of the band, from their startling rise to fame, and the sadness of their eventual fall.
In one sense, this film would make an excellent precursor to the “Buena Vista Social Club”. If you enjoyed that movie, then “Los Zafiros” is sure to please. The historic documentary footage is classic and thoroughly engaging, even when the ‘special effects’ betray a complete lack of sophistication. The film quality may be lacking, but the band’s performances are never less than stellar, especially in scenes that portray the entire five-piece band at their prime.
For anyone under the age of 50, the very word “Cuba” evokes a deep sense of mystery. It is a culture that has been hidden from us for a half century, but “Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time” shows us not only how different we were, but also how alike we really are. The contemporary scenes, where the two surviving bandmembers go in search of their history, are occasionally funny, but often extremely sad. One scene that shows a bandmember’s brother playing an emotionally quavering version of “My Prayer” (“Mi Oracion”) literally moved me to tears. We have been denied access to Cuban culture for too long, but this film goes a long way toward filling in some of the gaps caused by global politics. You should see “Los Zafiros” for the music, but it’s also worthwhile because it helps us understand a culture that is far outside this American world of ours. Naturally, you should expect some subtitles.
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