Carlos Páez Vilaró

Candombe reflects the lifestyle of an Afro-Uruguayan culture residing in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. This culture, originating from African slaves brought to the shores of the Río de la Plata, lives in an environment of constant music and dance. Its music is based on drum-beat percussion, and its dance is performed by a series of traditional characters: "La Mama Vieja," "El Escobero," "El Gramillero," and "Las Bailarinas."

This uneven and uninspired documentary of Africa is a collection from various stock footage. Female dancers in mod clothes dance on the Eiffel Tower in comparison to the primitive dances of native Africans. A lone runner trains for a marathon, and a few animals are shown in their natural habitat. Commentary and modern jazz and pop music help to make this seem much longer than 66 minutes.