BOLA DE NIEVE (1911 – 1971), Kubaner, Schwarzer, Anhänger des Santeria-Kultes, Homosexueller, Revolutionär und, vor allem, Musiker, ist einer der großen Männer der lateinamerikanischen Folklore des Zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts. Mit bürgerlichem Namen als Ignacio Villa geboren drang sein Ruhm bis nach Asien, Europa und in die Vereinigten Staaten. Dieser Dokumentarfilm gibt uns Gelegenheit, Bola und die Zeit, in der er lebte, kennenzulernen. Wir erleben einen Mann, dessen minimalistisches Spiel am Piano und dessen anziehende Stimme Berühmtheiten wie Edith Piaf, Andres Segovia, Pablo Neruda, Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Alejo Carpentier und Nicolas Guillen eine Gänsehaut verschaffte. Ein seelenvoller Mensch, der immer wiederholte, er sei „nur ein trauriger Mann, der fröhlich singt“.
Bola de Nieve (Ignacio Villa)
Havana City 1911- Mexico City 1971.
Author, singer and composer. He was born in Guanabacoa, Havana City, on September 11, 1911 and died in Mexico City on October 2, 1971. Cuban singer Rita Montaner gave him the nickname of Bola de Nieve, ironical description about his black face and round body.
Thanks to his grandmother`s interest, he had been studying since his early ages at Mateu Conservatoire of Havana and this knowledge, enhanced by the influence of an African folklor music atmosphere, imbricated on this charismatic artist a very particular performance mode. His style, melody, gestuality, voice tone and way of playing piano, were special gifts and well-defined features of his deep and permanent Cuban character.
He made his bow at the public scene, performing in a silent movie in his natal village. His artistic life started as Rita Montaner`s accompanying pianist on 1933, Mexico. When Rita came back to Cuba, Bola remained at the Mexican capital playing piano and working with different artists in theatrical spectacles, until he made, by chance, his first solo performance, at Politeama Theater in Mexico with Vito Manué, tu no sabe inglé, from Cuban authors Eliseo Grenet and Nicolás Guillén.
Notable pianist, as singer he showed an original style of interpretation very close to French Chansonier. Author of unforgettable and internationally well-known titles, such as: Si me pudieras querer, Ay amor, and Tú me has de querer, among others; he sang on different languages: Spanish, Catalan, English, French, Italian and Portuguesse, performing, in addition, at the main scenes of the world, alone or together with the most outstanding artists of the epoch.
He died in Mexico City while travelling to Peru and was transferred to Cuba to be buried in his natal city.
Main Source: Cuban Music Dictionary by Helio Orovio
Jose Sanchez-Montez
Regisseur
His dedication and love for the divulgative work started in 1979 when he joins of the Instituto de Estudios de la Vida Cotidiana (Institute of Studies on Everyday Life), created in the School of Law of the University of Granada. From that moment on he starts working in the sociological aspects of the media and in the world of publicity until December 1984, when he founded Atico Siete S.A. He has worked as the Director and Scriptwriter of the company’s projects for eighteen years, being responssible for their development. He has also been a lecturer, a teacher in different courses on audiovisual media and an advisor for the creation of cultural programs of the Employment National Department, Andalusian International University, Andalusian Autonomous Government and Granada’s City Hall.
He has attended the courses and sessions of main programs of the European Union, such as EAVE, Medea and some others of the Media Program. Media, Andalusian Government, and several Festivals Expert for project selection, he is currently President of Docus Andalucía Association and member of the Board of Directors of Docus España.