Narrated by Danny Glover, Rhythm of Fire is a compilation of the most stirring moments of Santiago de Cuba's annual Festival of the Caribbean, which celebrates African heritage in the region.
The documentary takes us into the inner life and magic of Santiago: the people, master Santeros, artists, and traditional musicians who cultivate the legacy of religion and music rooted in African culture; music like the Conga and the Rumba – whose tempos gave rise to Salsa and Son.
Each July, Santiago de Cuba becomes the cultural capital of the Caribbean when it celebrates the Festival of Fire. This celebration allows one to experience the rituals, magic, and exuberance of a people who arrived from Africa in slave ships, yet whose spirit – through music, dance, and ritual -- has survived to become key for a people who live with joy, simplicity, and pride in their culture, one that carries in its heart…the rhythm of fire.
Produced by Julie Belafonte, this documentary takes us into the inner life and magic of Santiago: the people, master Santeros,
artists, and traditional musicians who cultivate the legacy of religion and music rooted in African culture; music like the Conga and the Rumba – whose tempos gave rise to Salsa and Son. Our central protagonist, Cimerron, the fugitive slave, embodies the history of all liberated slaves; his strength establishes the historical foundation of Cuban and Antillean culture.Rhythm of Fire has been selected for the 2008 Langston Hughes African American Film Festival in Seattle,
Washington.
