"A cry, a chant, a hymn to life, to love, to mourning and the price of blood," is how Tony Gatlif describes his latest feature, a beautifully brooding tale of a monumental feud between two warring clans Caco, the handsome and charismatic leader of his clan, tries desperately to dull the pam of his daughter's death with wild parties and heavy drinking.

His brother Mario has been in hiding ever since he killed a member of the rival Caravacas clan, leaving Caco to try to repair the rift as well as look after Mario's mentally challenged son Diego. The Caravacas clan, a scurrilous looking bunch, demand that somebody in Caco's family pay for the death of their kin...and unless Mario returns or Caco is able to negotiate peace. that someone is likely to be Diego. This film is a musical feast for the eyes and ears alike. Gatlif allows his subjects to do what it is they do best: sing and dance incredibly Winner of the 2000 Cesar Award (the French Oscar) for Best Music. "Visually handsome, with a burnished palette and fine widescreen camerawork, Canales is a vigorous presence in the lead role." David Stratton