African Diaspora Film Festival
Hands of God  (see below)     Sons of Benkos          The Cathedral
 

This film is shown as part of a double feature program with Sons of Benkos, on Saturday, June 23^rd and Sunday, June 24^th, 2007, at the 5^th African Diaspora Film Festival-Chicago, held at Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago. For more information call 773-281-9075 or visit the website at www.facets.org. 

Appropriately titled, Hands of God, is a musical documentary about Julio “Chocolate” Algendones, who lived from 1937-2004. He was a drummer from Peru who was the equivalent of Charlie Parker on the trumpet. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. 

The music in the film is powerful because it is raw yet has the sound of an edited record. In the film Chocolate is most impressive as he sits on a drum that he uses as a seat just playing out a rhythm with his hands on the wood. Watching his fingers and listening to the complexity of sound is mesmerizing.  

When we see him play in a band, we recalled the energy and excitement of the sound of the live version of “The Ghetto” by Donny Hathaway. Chocolate was not into rehearsals, he felt it was like practicing for mistakes. That’s a hard concept for some of us --- that leap of faith to perform.  

Chocolate played from a spirit within, with entertainment being a secondary objective. He took time to another time and place. 

It was interesting to see how he influenced other musicians. They said that some people just become a part of you. He sits, plays and it just comes out. 

This is great fresh music you’ve likely never heard. Don’t miss it.