BLACK TEARS

These rumba kings play songs of love. La Vieja Trova Santiaguera – their name translates as 'the Old troubadors' – are five proud Cuban minstrels ranging in age from 62 to 84. Reinaldo, Pancho, Richardo, Aristotles, and the other Reinaldo are considered living treasures by the Havana government, which once systematically applied tests to the country's musicians and determined that, yes, these are the best in the land. Enchanted by the rhythms and pace of a different world, you'll meet the ripened artists at ease with their families at home and on an international concert tour throughout friendly territory (note: no USA). Don't be put off by the title, which is one of the ensemble's many folk ballads of tragic romance. This is a cheerful portrait of people who have devoted their whole lives to maintaining a melodic heritage in a Cuba which, due to a political situation that suddenly seems far away and petty, has remained frozen in mid-century with pre-embargo 1950s automobiles and naive May Day banners of Che and Fidel. Castro's stronghold may be the island that time forgot, but the islanders did not forget their music. (In Spanish with English subtitles)