Educational Media Reviews Online

This rather noisy documentary about pianos in Cuba informs its audience in Spanish, English and music (mostly of the Western "classical" variety, made on rickety instruments) of the sad effect lengthy economic embargo has had on Cuban pianos, and the subversion of that decline by Benjamin Treuhaft, a U. S. piano technician with a mission: "Send a Piana to Havana." The film shows one donated piano being delivered (from an anti-Castroite who insisted it go to a church) and gratefully received, but focuses mainly on the repair efforts Truehaft's "brigade" of piano technicians made during their 1999 two-week visit, as they selected the most likely pianos for salvage, made new strings for them, taught Cuban technicians some new tricks, and declared their negative opinions on official U. S. policy toward Cuba. Termites are a huge problem for Cuban pianos, and the U. S. visitors learned a trick from their hosts: pianos dusted with hot chili powder are not eaten by termites! Cuban youngsters are shown playing pianos and otherwise making music, and the spirit of the film is upbeat, with an obvious message (End the Embargo!), and a possibly unintended subtle message (Cubans are living meaningful, musical lives--on a shoestring, but completely noncommercially). Both languages are subtitled, so the film can be understood by literate people who know only Spanish or English. Audience level: high school and above. Recommended for comprehensive collections concerned with Latin American issues.