Música!

Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman | 2023 | United States | 71 minutes

The Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, founded 120 years ago, trains the cream of aspiring Cuban musicians. Enrolment is so competitive that the conservatory only accepts one out of every hundred applicants. But this prestigious Cuban musical institution is suffering from its country's political isolation. Enter Horns for Havana, a New York-based initiative that brings together North American artisans who deliver strings and other materials needed by musicians and offer instrument repair workshops. Beyond the characterisation of this alliance, the documentary is an intimate portrait of various talents in training, many of whom are seen absorbing the living history of jazz during a strange study trip to New Orleans. Filmed over several years, Música! allows us to bear witness to how these artists embark on professional careers that may well prove to be stellar.