Cuba Mia: Portrait of an All-Woman Orchestra

This delightful documentary profiles the all-female Camerata Romeu, a chamber orchestra formed in Cuba in the early 1990s, now internationally renowned for its eclectic repertoire of Cuban folk music, European classical, and African-Latin American rhythms. Director Cecilia Domeyko reveals many facets of Cuban life and day-to-day society and culture through the lives of the 10 women performers (plus taskmaster-conductor Zenaida Romeu) seen here. Some are young and single while others are mature moms, but what they all have in common is a shared determination to help fulfill Romeu's musical vision. And speaking of the music, it's a joy to behold (although one can't help but wish that more of it were featured in the main program without interruption). Presented in Dolby Digital stereo (and both English and Spanish), DVD extras here include bonus concert performances and a “making-of” featurette. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)