Dame la mano (2004)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Heddy Honigmann

Writers:

Ester Gould (writer)
Heddy Honigmann (writer)

Release Date:

5 February 2004 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Documentary

Awards:

1 nomination

Also Known As:

Give Me Your Hand (International: English title)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Company:

Pieter Van Huystee Film and Television

Rumba in exile

Heddy Honigmann is a serious documentary maker whose previous work we had admired. Among our personal favorites are: "The Underground Orchestra" and "O Amor Natural", which clearly showed the talent of Ms. Honigmann.

In this new film, "Dame la mano", Ms. Honigmann traveled to New Jersey to follow a group of Cubans exiles that have brought with them their country's traditions in the form of song and dance. We are taken to Union City, a town across the Hudson, where we are introduced to the people that during the day must work hard in order to make a living, but during their spare time, some of them are seen honing on their skills as dancers, and singers. Afro-Cuban culture is kept alive by all the people we see showcased in the documentary.

The final montage of a night at "La Esquina Habanera" shows how these exiles party and do wonderful music together. All the participants are skilled in dancing the rumba the way they learned in their homeland. The sweet Rafaela, a sixty-something old woman, shows that she might be an excellent cook during the day, but she is an amazing dancer at night.

Ms. Honigmann captured the essence of these people doing what they do best.