The Bottom Line
Los Zafiros: Music From The Edge Of Time is a nostalgic trip down memory lane to 1960s Cuba when Los Zafiros' musical fusion of doo wop and Cuban rhythms skyrocketed them to the top - first in Cuba and then to international fame. The story is told from the point of view of the two surviving Zafiros and includes interviews and rare retro clips of Cuba as well as full performances by the band.
Los Zafiros: Music From The Edge of Time Soundtrack:
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Los Zafiros: Music From The Edge of Time DVD:
Pros
- Wonderful, rare clips of Cuba
- Four full archival performances
Cons
- Film gets a little too maudlin towards the end
Description
- Story of Cuba's Los Zafiros told from viewpoint of 2 surviving memebers
- Extras include Los Zafiros archival performances
- Retro videos of Cuban TV plus Cuban TV commercials
- Released by Shout!Factory
Guide Review - DVD Review: Los Zafiros - Music From The Edge Of Time
Los Zafiros (The Sapphires) were 5 young Cubans who decided to get together and make music. Miguelito (Miguel Cancio), Galban (Manuel Galban), Ignacio (Ignacio Elejalde), El Chino (Eduardo Hernandez) and Kike (Leoncio Morua) got together to form a singing group with not much more going for them than good voices and a love of modern music. Galban was the only member of the quintet that knew music, thus was tagged to become the director of Los Zafiros.
Against all odds, the infectious blend of Afro-Cuban motifs and the doo wop music of the times caught the musical hearts and minds of the Cuban people; in Cuba, Los Zafiros were bigger than the Beatles and over time their fame burst the geographical envelope of the Caribbean and the group became an international sensation, touring extensively through that decade.
Los Zafiros: Music From The Edge Of Time is a documentary of their journey, produced and directed by Lorenzo DeStefano. As is often the case with young musicians hitting the big time at an early age, their success story is shadowed by the early death of Ignacio and Kike, both of whom died at 37 (1981 and 1982). El Chino lived until 1995, although he was plagued with vision, speech and drinking problems. Miguel moved to Miami, while Galban stayed in Havana.
DeStefano reunites Miguel and Galban in Havana and they take us on a trip down memory lane. The film makes abundant use of rare footage of both Cuba during that time and of Los Zafiros performances. He uses interviews with surviving family members to paint a picture of the young artists; the documentary ends with a sentimental visit by the surviving pair to the graves of their departed friends.
This is a nostalgic trip with good music and 5 charismatic young men with small dreams that made it big - a story sure to touch us all.
