Joseph Boulogne, Le Chevalier de St George, was a Black classical composer and violin virtuoso born in Guadeloupe in the mid 18th century. The son of a slave and her master, he achieved enormous success as a musician, fencer, and military man. Yet, when he died in 1799, he was all but erased from history. The Black Mozart in Cuba is the latest act in the rehabilitation of the memory of this extraordinary human being. The film skillfully combines biographical information with performances of his works. The event, held in Cuba in 2005 in his honor, is truly engaging and important and inspired a remarkable film.
