| | |  | LATIN MUSIC | Home » » Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | As John, Paul, George and Ringo were forming the Beatles in Liverpool in the early 1960s, another band was coming together in the tough district of Cayo Hueso in Havana. Playing a brilliant mix of American inspired Doo Wop and traditional Latin forms, Los Zafiros became a huge sensation in Cuba and beyond before dissolving in the mid 1970s. Thirty years after their breakup, the two surviving band members, multiple-Grammy winner and Buena Vista Social Club alumnus Manuel Galbán, and the group’s co-founder, Miguel Cancio, reunite in the streets of present-day Havana, a place full of unforgettable songs and memories for them and for their still-loyal fans. | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Manuel Galban, Miguel Cancio, Los Nuevos Zafiros, Manolin - El Medico de Salsa, Juana Bacallao | | Director:
| Lorenzo DeStefano | | Format:
| Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| English, Spanish | | Subtitle:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Shout Factory - Vivendi Filmed Entertainment | | Run Time:
| 78 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| July 31, 2007 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 4 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $1.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $1.99 | New | | | $2.00 | New | | | $4.49 | New | | | $4.59 | New | | | $5.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $5.95 | Used
- Good | | | $6.68 | Used
- Mint | | | $6.68 | Used
- Mint | | | $6.68 | New | | | $6.68 | New | | | $6.68 | New | | | $9.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $9.99 | New | | | $10.00 | New | | | $11.19 | New | | | $13.36 | New | | | $13.51 | Used
- Mint | | | $13.52 | Used
- Mint | | | $13.53 | New | | | $13.67 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | | | $14.29 | New | | | $14.36 | New | | | $14.49 | New | | | $15.49 | New | | | $15.83 | New | | | $15.84 | New | | | $15.85 | New | | | $16.45 | New | | | $16.70 | New | | | $17.30 | New | | | $17.97 | New | | | $17.99 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $18.29 | New | | | $19.47 | New | |
| New | |
| $1.99 | New | | | $2.00 | New | | | $4.49 | New | | | $4.59 | New | | | $6.68 | New | | | $6.68 | New | | | $6.68 | New | | | $9.99 | New | | | $10.00 | New | | | $11.19 | New | | | $13.36 | New | | | $13.53 | New | | | $14.29 | New | | | $14.36 | New | | | $14.49 | New | | | $15.49 | New | | | $15.83 | New | | | $15.84 | New | | | $15.85 | New | | | $16.45 | New | | | $16.70 | New | | | $17.30 | New | | | $17.97 | New | | | $17.99 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $18.29 | New | | | $19.47 | New | |
| Used | |
| $1.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $5.95 | Used
- Mint | | | $5.95 | Used
- Good | | | $6.68 | Used
- Mint | | | $6.68 | Used
- Mint | | | $9.99 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $13.51 | Used
- Mint | | | $13.52 | Used
- Mint | | | $13.67 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Good | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Los Zafiros: Untold history that can't be toldDec 07, 2007
1962, Cuba. "Señores" (Mr.) are now "Compañeros or Camaradas" (Comrades) as in USSR, Che Guevara introduces the concept of "Hombre Nuevo" (New Man). Prostitution, Cabarets, Casinos, Night Life, Vitrolas are considered "vicious of the imperialism", like the rock, doo-wop, jazz, and american music. Luis Bravo, the only successful cuban rock singer ever, was criticized and never returned to the country after a USA tour that year. In the 70's songs sung in English were forbidden, Radio and TV promoted "Nueva Trova" and "Salsa", in the early 70's the Cuban Underground Rock dissapear.
Los zafiros, the best vocal cuban group ever, played american style music, like the Platters or the Motown Sound, but at the same time they mixed cuban rythms and Bossa Nova, so they found the way to perform on TV and cuban Radio. But the Zafiro's life style never match the image of the "Hombre Nuevo" and they suddenly and misteriously vanished(?). There was no public information at all. Kike, "El Chino" and Ignacio, 3 great lead singers never could sing as solist after the rupture (???!!!). Kike and Ignacio died in the eighties, some years after. In 1992 Jorge Dalton made "Herido de Sombras", the first revival of forgotten Zafiros (and forgotten Cuban music). This is a hard to find documentary that shows "El Chino" still alive, his last days living in poverty, without a helping hand, and treated unrespectfully.
Los zafiros: Music From The Edge of Time could not be done using Press, magazines or any otrer material as source of information. Instead, the other 2 members of the group told the story. Cancio is an exiled, who has family in Cuba and who likes to visit his country. Galvan is an active musician, living "well" in Cuba(better than ordinary citizens), and had to keep his status ( so: don't say nothing!). Unfortunately we probabily never know the whole true history of Zafiros.
I do believe the archival clips worth 5 starts by itself, I'm giving 3 because It looks like Cancio & Galvan were the most important members of Los Zafiros, and they really weren't. The roll played by founder Nestor Milli is dismissed and usurped by Galvan.
Los Zafiros were at the Top of the Cuban Music in the Sixties, they could have been reach any market, even singing in spanish. Lack of promotion. What a group!!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
interesting but not necessarily compellingSep 20, 2007
American listeners are most familiar with Manuel Galbán for his role in "Buena Vista Social Club." In that project, he only played an accompanying role. As a follow-up, "Mambo Sinuendo" stands as his most outstanding contribution. Those who were wooed by the instrumental guitar album will appreciate learning about the group that originally put Galbán on the musical map. Los Zafiros were a Cuban doo-wop group from the 1960's. Back in the day, they were all the rage. As an international phenomenon, the group traveled the world before returning home to implode. With the help of the surviving band members and those who lived through it all, "Music from the Edge of Time" is a nostalgic look at 'The Sapphires.' The film is interesting, but that's not the same as compelling. The best way appreciate this project may be to compare it with its theatrical peer, "Buena Vista Social Club." While Ry Cooder's movie was a celebration of something vibrant and alive, "Music from the Edge of Time" is a look back at something long gone. Beyond this, the music hasn't aged well. Buena Vista Social Club played music that was simultaneously vintage yet timeless. Unless you happened to grow up in Cuba during the 1960's, Los Zafiros tend to sound like old Spanish language pop. Indeed, Los Zafiros have little to offer that would attract today's world music listener. The exception to this is the music played in the film by the surviving members. Whether played in a bar or studio, the contemporary music is on a level of quality with "Buena Vista Social Club" and Ibrahim Ferrer's eponymous album. "Music from the Edge of Time" would have been stronger had it included more music played by the surviving members. Parts of the film are moving and exciting while other moments seem a dirge to the past. The overall production is good, but not 'major motion picture good.' Cuban enthusiasts will relish the film while those who aren't already familiar with the group should probably skip "Music from the Edge of Time."
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Somethiong Different and BeautifulAug 29, 2007
Are you getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? Are you in the mood for something different, but don't know where to start? "Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time" might be just what you are looking for, even if you don't know it. Don't expect this DVD to be on display in a special showcase at your local Shop-a-Mart; this is a special-niche documentary that achieves big results with little fanfare. Los Zafiros were a Cuban band that achieved superstardom in their home country and Europe in a post-Bay of Pigs universe that prevented them (along with a language barrier) from being heard in America. In 1964, Los Zafiros were the second most popular act in Cuba, after the Beatles. Their sound relied heavily on the Platters, but also has a touch of Smokey Robinson's Miracles, the Drifters, and the Flamingoes. The music takes the traditional American-style doo-wop and stylizes it into something extraordinary by stretching past the typical baion rhythms of American vocal groups, including bossa nova, calypso, mamba, bolero, cumbia, and any other Latin rhythm you care to name. The DVD concentrates on the story of the band, from their startling rise to fame, and the sadness of their eventual fall.
In one sense, this film would make an excellent precursor to the "Buena Vista Social Club". If you enjoyed that movie, then "Los Zafiros" is sure to please. The historic documentary footage is classic and thoroughly engaging, even when the `special effects' betray a complete lack of sophistication. The film quality may be lacking, but the band's performances are never less than stellar, especially in scenes that portray the entire five-piece band at their prime.
For anyone under the age of 50, the very word "Cuba" evokes a deep sense of mystery. It is a culture that has been hidden from us for a half century, but "Los Zafiros: Music from the Edge of Time" shows us not only how different we were, but also how alike we really are. The contemporary scenes, where the two surviving bandmembers go in search of their history, are occasionally funny, but often extremely sad. One scene that shows a bandmember's brother playing an emotionally quavering version of "My Prayer" ("Mi Oracion") literally moved me to tears. We have been denied access to Cuban culture for too long, but this film goes a long way toward filling in some of the gaps caused by global politics. You should see "Los Zafiros" for the music, but it's also worthwhile because it helps us understand a culture that is far outside this American world of ours. Naturally, you should expect some subtitles. A- Tom Ryan
3 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 A wasted opportunity for a great documentary.Aug 19, 2007
I waited a long time for this movie, and I wish I could speak more highly of it, because it seems to have been made with all the right intentions, but after the long wait I'm sorry to say that this movie disappointed me greatly.
In "Los Zafiros" Mr. Destefano doesn't tell the story of the famous group, but instead he tells the story of the grief of the two surviving members, Cansio and Galvan, for their lost bandmates, and he gives them free rein to indulge in excessive sentimentality, never probing for answers to some basic questions that at the end of the movie still remain unanswered:
Why did the group disband? What brought about their demise and sudden disappearance from the Cuban media? What happened to each of the members after the disintegration? What kind of lives did they lead after the break up? What led to the decline of each of the three deceased members?
We also learn very little about each of the members, except for the subjective recollection that Galvan and Cansio and some relatives had of them. Missing are biographical details, and an account of the group's career.
In communist Cuba, at the height of the cold war, a group like Los Zafiros must have been controversial, yet we hear nothing of their relation with government officials, which some rumors blame for their sudden disappearance from the Cuban media.
We hear very little in terms of anecdotes, events and private lives. A glaring omission in the story of a group that packed so much success in such a short time. Most of the movie is taken up by Cansio and Galvan mourning the death of their friends and expressing their love for them with overwrought sentimentality and silly rituals, without actually giving much information that the viewer can use to learn more about the group. Every piece of information we learn is provided in a subjective and sentimental manner by a close friend or relative of the group's members, and without continuity.
The rest of the time is occupied by musical performances and video clips of the group, which are the highlight of film.
In the end, I came away from this movie knowing just as much about Los Zafiros after watching it, as I did before I watched it.
Destefano forgot to tell the story of Los Zafiros and instead gave us a sappy and overindulgent look at their place in the hearts of those close to them. Well intentioned, but ultimately boring, tiring, and most of all, a real waste of perhaps the last opportunity we had to learn the story of this unique group from two of the original members.
| | |
|
