Demo Video
CHAPTERS
SYNOPSIS
From the insides of Habana, in 1925, a black Cinderella is born filled with flavor, talent and transcendence... Daughter of a humble family, she came to this world with the blessing of the Gods and a lucky star that would be with her throughout her life, despite its ups and downs. Her talent, voice and charm transformed her from being a poor, skinny and ugly black girl to the Latin America´s most beloved and successful musical artist around the world. In an age where female singers were classified as tramps, Celia made her way through, beating prejudices and crowning herself... as the most important lead singer of the famous orchestra: “La Sonora Matancera”. What seemed to be the way out to a successful career and the solution of poverty and misery, all thanks to music; almost crumble because of a Cuba falling gradually in the strictest military dictatorship, which threatened to bring downCelia´s dreams. Now she not only had to face the whims of an industry run by men but also the harassment, mistreatment and injustice of a system that she never accepted. Feeling her musical momentum vanished and passing a hard time with her family, she receives an invitation, in 1961, to leave the country with the band, without knowing that it would not be temporary but for the rest of her life. Since that trip, Celia would never come back to Cuba again which means leaving her loved ones behind, including her mother suffering from cancer, for exilingin Mexican lands. Beside her at the time was a musician from the band “La Sonora Matancera”, who gradually grew in her heart and became eventually the undisputed love of her life. It was the famous womanizer Pedro Knight, who by the time he showed up in Celia´s life already had 2 recognized daughters and was an unstoppable flirtatious, including among his conquest Celia´s sister, Noris, who by the way stayed behind in Cuba like all of Celia´s close friends and family. However, love is stronger and Celia falls at Pedro´s feet, loving him madly and realizing that close to him she will finds happiness and the strength to conquer the world. Celia´s talent and commitment proved to be stronger than her problems: the Cuban revolution that pursues her, the disagreements with Pedro, her parent’s deaths and the eternal forced exile she had to live with. Her name and charm reached Tito Puente and then Johnny Pacheco, who in those days was bringing together “La Fania All Stars” in the city of New York. A group of the best Salsa musicians in the land, where Celia would be the most valued jewel, and along them, “la Guarachera”, conquered every soul who attended her concerts and every person that bought her records. At the same time, her best friend in Cuba, the talented singer with an extraordinary voice Lola Calvo, now settled in New York after going through a living hell at her country would become Celia´s great rival. Young Lola would be Celia´s negative counterpart, while having practically the same talent and opportunities as Celia, she will show that in order to achieve true greatness is needed more than a great voice. Celia´s love for children was infinite. Around the middle of her life and with the big desire of being a mother we will also observe how that obstacle was established in her soul. Destiny never gave her a child of her own; however, a 12 year old boy from her fans club, with time, will be like her lost son, and would give her the opportunity to love him as a mother, despite Pedro´s jealousy and rejection. Although eventually with time he would accept him. When all obstacles seems defeated, Celia would face her last and hardest challenge, her sister Noris will come from Cuba and will witness the luxurious and successful life that Celia lives. She will suffers envy and also an old and unresolved affection for Pedro will be present. This is the story of Celia Cruz, the not so pretty, black, skinny and shy girl, who never stopped singing and carrying an important message of freedom for her people. She never bought into the fame machine, remained always humble and charismatic, and with commitment achieved everything she aimed in life. With her voice she seduced audiences from different languages and she made her own revolution: to make Salsa music the most important Latino music genre in the world, to be remembered in history as that woman, who far away from her home, honored it and showed us there are no impossible dreams.
TECHNICAL FILE
VICE PRESIDENCY OF PRODUCTION: AMPARO LÓPEZ
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: NELSON MARTINEZ
SCRIPT WRITERS: ANDRÉS SALGADO, PAUL RODRIGUEZ
ASSISTANT PRODUCER: CAROLINA SALAZAR
HEAD OF PRODUCTION: MAURICIO RODRIGUEZ
COORDINATOR OF PRODUCTION: CAROL MARCELA SALAZAR
LOCATIONS PRODUCER: ARMANDO GORDILLO
INVESTIGATION ASSISTANT: MARIA PAULA AFANADOR
COORDINATOR OF POST: CAROLINA PINZÓN
COORDINAOT OF DIRECTION: ALEXANDRA MARIA ROCHA
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR UNIT 1: JULIÁN TORRES
DIRECTOR UNIT 1: VÍCTOR MALLARINO
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR UNIT 1: ANDRÉS PÉREZ
SCRIPT UNIT 1: ANGÉLICA CADAVID VALENCIA
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR UNIT 2: ANDRES DUQUE
DIRECTOR UNIT 2: LILIANA BOCANEGRA
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR UNIT 2: FELIPE PAREDES GARCÉS
SCRIPT UNIT 2: MAYRA ALEJANDRA HENAO
ART DIRECTOR: ROSARIO LOZANO
CAST
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Demo Celia