Search - Jose Serrano, Antonio El Agujetas :: Two Cries for Freedom (Dos Gritos De Libertad)

The gypsies in Spain are looked down upon as "suspicious foreigners", who travel in large families. They are perceived as entrepreneurs in thievery, con games, drug dealing and extorting money from tourists and elderly citizens. Like the African-American situation in this country, a disproportionate number of young adult gypsies are in prison or on probation. In fact, they are an enterprising people with strong family ties, extensive religious rituals and their own strict laws, dating back hundreds of years.In a country internationally recognized for it's culture of flamenco song, music and dancing, the gypsies reign supreme. The various state provincial governments (juntas) in Spain, along with all the state accredited national flamenco clubs (penas), decided to select the very best inmate singers of flamenco in Spanish jails by running a national contest open to all incarcerated prisoners.One hundred and fifty inmates, from many different jails, responded by sending in demo cassettes of their singing voices. Many jails were represented, including Malaga, Valencia, Madrid, Alomorca, Barcelona, Sevilla, Ocana, Cuenca and Jaen. Thirty finalists were selected and escorted from their provincial jails by the armed Spanish Guardia Civil to the prison of Cordoba for the final selection of the best singer. The contestants were backed by the foremost flamenco guitarists, clappers and shouters (jaleo) in the flamenco world. The ultimate reward - 5,000 pesetas and the reduction of the sentence being served.