El Milagro de Candeal (2004)

Synopsis: Spanish director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE, CALLE 54) celebrates the transformative power of music in his life-affirming documentary EL MILAGRO DE CANDEAL (THE MIRACLE OF CANDEAL). Like a Brazilian version of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, the film follows Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés as he... Spanish director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE, CALLE 54) celebrates the transformative power of music in his life-affirming documentary EL MILAGRO DE CANDEAL (THE MIRACLE OF CANDEAL). Like a Brazilian version of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, the film follows Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés as he travels to Brazil's Salvador de Bahía region to explore his African roots. Once there, Valdés visits the favela of Candeal to meet the legendary Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown, who has improved life in his native slum through a positive mix of social activism and music education. [More]