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Valencia, Venezuela. In 2009 in Las Brisas, a poor and very dangerous part of the city, the film’s director Marianela Maldonado met three young children: Edixon, Dissandra and Wuilly. They were part of one of the world’s most unique musical programmes, known as EL SISTEMA.
Marianela was particularly touched by the youngsters' determination, their dedication to their families, their hopes and dreams. She never imagined, though, that she would accompany them for ten years on a journey full of challenges as they reached for their musical ambition… and that she would see, through their eyes, the total collapse of her country, Venezuela.
This is the story of the lives of three children: Dissandra, a nine-year-old who’d lost two baby sisters when her grandmother signed her up to El Sistema to help alleviate her sorrow. Close by lives Edixon, raised by his grandmother since his father was gunned down only a few blocks away. She enrolled him to keep him off the streets. And Wuilly who, after being nearly imprisoned in a church for eight years by his fanatic parents, discovers the violin and learns to play by watching YouTube videos.
By 2014, the Chavista regime had led the country into a phase of total deterioration and the children are hit by severe economic difficulties. Each one has to make tough choices...
The film premiered at Sheffield Doc Fest, in the "International First Feature Competition". Click here for the festival entry.
Festivals and Awards:
* 2022: Sheffield Doc Fest, official selection "International First Feature Competition", 23 - 28 June.
* 2022: PRIX SACEM - "Special Jury Award for Best Music Documentary of 2022. (SACEM is the French Society of authors, composers and music publishers)