Mambo Man

Directed by Mo Fini, Edesio Alejandro
Mo Fini, Edesio Alejandro
Corinth Films
2020
82 Minutes
Cuba
Spanish
Drama
Theatrical booking
Erin Farrell
erin@filmmovement.com
Festival and non-theatrical booking
Erin Farrell
erin@filmmovement.com
Materials and print traffic
Erin Farrell
erin@filmmovement.com

Synopsis

Based on a true story. In 2017, after more than half a century since Castro’s revolution, Cuba opens her arms to the West and the Yankee dollar. Born into communism, JC (Héctor Noas) is a ‘big fish in a small pond’ – a local music producer and promoter, farmer and small-time hustler who lives by his wits and imagination. To support his family and small circle of ‘business associates’ and maintain his local “Godfather” status, JC lives beyond his means – a fact that creates strains in his marriage to Rita (Yudexi de la Torre Mesa). When his crops are threatened by late rains JC has to juggle the demands of organizing music concerts while also sourcing pig feed, fixing water pumps and entertaining a group of visiting British music tourists. Along the way there is betrayal and heartbreak but behind JC’s wisecracking persona is a considerate man. He is not greedy– he just wants to provide for friends and family and escape the precarious, hand-to-mouth existence that threatens to derail his life at any moment. An unexpected phone call offers the chance to make a fortune and change his life forever. This triggers a frantic search for cash and a mysterious rendezvous that leads to a nerve-racking finale.

MAMBO MAN is packed with musical contributions from Cuban legends including; Candido Fabre, Maria Ochoa, Alma Latina, David Alvarez, Arturo Jorge, Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Juan De Marcos Gonzalez and the Afro-Cuban All Stars.