This is the story of Donell, an eleven-year-old boy who lives in Trinidad in the West Indies. Donell's fondest desire when he grows up is to become a "Panman", i.e. their name for a steel-drummer. Using the child's life and the musicians around him as the basis for the story, the director opens up the country and its folklore to us and introduces us to its warm, exuberant people, whose lives seem to evolve to a musical beat. On the eve of Carnaval in Trinidad, the most famous of the steel bands play in the "Panorama", the great annual competition. Every neighborhood in the city has its own band. After months of rehearsal, Donell is chosen to play in the celebrated "Potential Symphony Orchestra". This is the proudest day of his life…

France / Trinidad and Tobago / Documentary / 1994 / 26min / Video / Colour / VOST / French

Collection "KIDS, MUSIC & DANCE"

Director : Barthélémy FOUGEA                                   
Authors : Sophie LEMERDY, Barthélémy FOUGEA
Director of photography : Dominique GENTIL      
Producer :  Barthélémy FOUGEA

PARTNER
A Boreales production,
with the participation of Canal +, UMT and
ministère de la Culture et de la Francophonie.

With the help of CNC and PROCIREP


AWARDS
Rose d'Or UNDA
Montreux Festival
(Switzerland) 1995

Music Award
Festival du Film d'Art et pédagogique-UNESCO
(Paris, France) 1995

Finalist
International Film Festival of New York
USA 1996