David Turnley

Moving with the rhythm of the musicians and dancers from the working-class Havana dance hall, Salon Rosado Benny More, a.k.a. "La Tropical," David Turnley's libidinous documentary at first appears to be an exercise in sexual abandon. But the characters pile up: Juan Cruz, the elderly charismatic M.C., Pedrito of the Grammy-winning, Los Van Van, Luis Manuel of Son Candela, interracial dancers and sweethearts Benny and Ayme. As La Tropical peeks into some of their lives, it does so with disarming honesty and intimacy. By the end, nothing less than a highly personal microcosm of Cuban society has been unveiled. The music and dance are marvelous, but the movie is astonishing in its ability to unveil vignettes that reveal everyday struggles simply and directly, with pleasure and sorrow all of a piece. (JA) 96 min.

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