“Mexican music is a fever… a beautiful art that gets into your blood.”
And with that, El Rey — part of an ongoing documentary project by filmmakers Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari — gives us a glimpse into the life of a mariachi performer in Boyle Heights, Ca. The mini-documentary explores the tough life of performers who gather at Mariachi Plaza de Los Angeles to play music for anyone willing to give them business. Settling in apartments adjacent to the plaza, the musicians dedicate their heart and soul to play music for a living. There are no guarantees, only passion.
A truly wonderful piece, El Rey reminds us that we all control our own destiny, and that mariachi music is tremendously moving.
El Rey from California is a place. on Vimeo.