Even though this is a "TV movie" it never seems like a TV movie. The actors are super as are the production values. Add to that music supplied by Arturo Sandoval himself and it all adds up to a fine movie. Sure, I suppose it is a bit romanticized but never in an objectionable manner.
The movie is told as a series of flashbacks as Arturo is at an American embassy, being interviewed as he asks for asylum, to escape Cuba. The story is told in a manner which portrays the Cuban government in an unfavorable light. The only "freedom" that Castro's revolution brought them was the freedom to do what the government wanted them to. Anyone who might have spoken against Castro was tried then shot.
Andy Garcia is very good as Arturo Sandoval. He certainly has a passion for the role, being a Cuban refugee himself, as a small boy. Being a trumpet player myself I could certainly tell he wasn't actually playing, but in many cases he did a pretty good job of faking it almost realistically.
His love was south American Mía Maestro as Marianela. A friend of hers was played by another Cuban refugee, Gloria Estefan as Emilia. David Paymer was the Embassy interviewer. And Charles S. Dutton was good as Dizzy Gillespie whom Sandoval idolized, and also who helped Sandoval get approval for him and his family to come to the USA while he was on tour.
A really good movie. I saw it on DVD loaned from my public library.
The movie is told as a series of flashbacks as Arturo is at an American embassy, being interviewed as he asks for asylum, to escape Cuba. The story is told in a manner which portrays the Cuban government in an unfavorable light. The only "freedom" that Castro's revolution brought them was the freedom to do what the government wanted them to. Anyone who might have spoken against Castro was tried then shot.
Andy Garcia is very good as Arturo Sandoval. He certainly has a passion for the role, being a Cuban refugee himself, as a small boy. Being a trumpet player myself I could certainly tell he wasn't actually playing, but in many cases he did a pretty good job of faking it almost realistically.
His love was south American Mía Maestro as Marianela. A friend of hers was played by another Cuban refugee, Gloria Estefan as Emilia. David Paymer was the Embassy interviewer. And Charles S. Dutton was good as Dizzy Gillespie whom Sandoval idolized, and also who helped Sandoval get approval for him and his family to come to the USA while he was on tour.
A really good movie. I saw it on DVD loaned from my public library.