Cachao: Uno Mas (2008)

2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

A Report from SFIFF

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: If you saw Buena Vista Social Club at the festival in 1999 and Calle 54 at the festival in 2001, then you may be familiar with the music of Israel 'Cachao' Lopez, the great Cuban songwriter and bassist who helped bring the mambo to popularity. The new Cachao: Uno Mas comes just in time, given that Cachao passed away just two months ago at the age of 89. It would be great to report that this 68-minute documentary was a worthy farewell to him, but it's far too brief and it breaks the cardinal rule of music films: it interrupts the songs with talking heads. Some years ago actor Andy Garcia discovered Cachao's music, befriended him and helped re-start his career, especially in the United States. Garcia joined Cachao's band as a drummer and helped produce this and other movies. Unfortuantely, director Dikayl Rimmasch seems rather starstruck by Garcia and splits the film's scant running time equally between Garcia and Cachao. So we end up with a few remembrances (all glowing, funny and full of hero-worship), a few fragments of songs, and a few precious minutes of Cachao in action, which isn't enough for a real portrait. San Francisco State University was heavily involved in the film's production.