Lucumi is ten and lives in Havana's black district. Brought up to beat of drums, he dreams of becoming a great rumbero. With other kids on his block he improvises rumbas on old cans and pots and pans. One saturday the best of Havana's musicians decide to get together at the "Solar California" to honour the memory of Chano Pozo, otherwise known as "the drum of Cuba".
With the rumba beat, Lucumi sings, dances, plays and talks about his life, as if better to express the hardships he's already endured and to have his message heard.On this saturday he joins up with the great rumberos and wakes up the old spirits of the tumbadora.


France / Documentary / 1995 / 26min / Vidéo / Colour / VOST / French

Collection "KIDS, MUSIC & DANCE"

Producers :  Frédéric FOUGEA, Barthélémy FOUGEA,
Anne Marie ADER
Director : Tony GATLIF
Author : Tony GATLIF
Line producer : Isabelle GINTZBURGER-LEFAUCHEUX
Director of photography : Eric GUICHARD

PARTNERS
A Boreales, Canal + co-production, in association with Transatlantic Video and Polyson With the help of CNC and PROCIREP.

AWARDS
Rose d'Or selection
Montreux Festival
Switzerland 1996

MediaNet Selection
Special Award "Abenteuer Leben- Adventure Life"
Munich (Germany) 1996

Music Award
Festival du Film d'Art et pédagogique-UNESCO
(Paris, France) 1996

International Television Festival of Barcelone selection
(Spain) 1998