For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story

This artistic drama unfolds a touching love story presented against a colorful visual backdrop set to vibrant music, featuring strong acting. Andy Garcia soulfully portrays the main character, Cuban jazz trumpet player Arturo Sandoval, and is executive producer as well. Garcia's (and Sandoval's) love for Cuba and passion for music (jazz) are evident throughout the story, which is predictible and told in flashbacks. The viewer senses the growing frustration of Sandoval at the conflict created by his need to freely express his love (music) which is increasingly blocked by the repressive political regime, without losing his wife and son. Sadly, he concludes that he must defect from Cuba. Mia Maestro beautifully and tenderly plays Mrs. Sandoval, whose emotional journey eventually leads her to realize she must follow her husband (and her heart) by agreeing to leave Cuba with him. Charles Dutton plays Dizzy Gillespie; Gloria Estefan also appears. The story is poignantly told, made more so because it is a biography (Sandoval was an advisor).

A romanticized dramatic biography, "For Love or County" tells the true story of trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval's escape from Cuba and oppression of artistic expression. A well composed and entertaining production, this film packs ideological and political conflict, a love story, and plenty of authentic Sandoval music into a two hour run. Perhaps most importantly, the film makes clear that freedom of musical expression is, to the musician, as important as freedom of speech; especially when that music is jazz.

I saw this movie on HBO 3 times. It was very entertaining yet also very sad, showing many of us how an oppressive regime under a dictator can tear families apart, ban artistic creativity and force a man to flee his country. The team at HBO certainly scored a 10 with this one. I was able to sit down with my children and share a very poignent experince about the human condition and the importance of freedom and democracy. All of the cast were marvelous, and what more can you say about Andy Garcia this actor is truly gifted and outstanding, Ive seen Arturo Sandoval play and Andy captured his every nuance of musical genius, plus he showed us the artists soul and his heartbreaking choice of For Love of Country. Well done HBO and Andy Garcia, give us more of this type of compelling film making

I kind of just came accross it on HBO while channel surfing. I ended up not being able to leave my seat. I actually debated - go to the bathroom and miss a few minutes of the movie or hold it. Guess what, I held. Great acting, an emotional portrayal.

Our fasting is going I watch movie after praying today when I switched on the TV I saw title of movie the name of movie was FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY. FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY is based on the true story of Arturo Sandoval who finally cooperates with the Cuban government and even joins the communist party in order to have the freedom to travel internationally. He was living in a country where there was no respect for human rights, let alone freedom of expression in music.

It was very entertaining and emotional movie which kept me sit strongly on the seat I couldn't move until the end of this movie. In the movie it showed an oppressive regime under a dictator can tear families apart and ban the right of human being and ban artistic creativity and force a man to flee his country, a very poignant experience about the human condition and the importance of freedom and democracy. All cast were marvelous, and what more can you say about Andy Garcia this actor is truly gifted and outstanding, Arturo Sandoval plays and Andy captures his every nuance of musical genius, plus he showed us the artists soul and his heartbreaking choice of For Love of Country. Marianela represents family loyalty and the way people who live in Cuba really think. It shows how Marianela goes from being completely loyal to a dictator to having her eyes opened to the reality of the situation. She falls completely in love with this talented musician but fears he may leave her like her first husband. Arturo has also been married before and while he is willing to spend his entire life with Marianela, she has her doubts and issues with trust. She has been betrayed by the government she supported.

-Marianela she is very beautiful actress she performed great her character.

This movie is at times so romantic. Especially the scene where Marianela and Arturo are dancing and when she wakes him up after he spends the night sleeping on a grave. The scene overlooking the ocean is so pristine.

After performing with the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music, he was allowed to start a group called Irakere that promoted a combination of Cuban music and jazz. In 1981 he then leaves Irakere to form his own band Nasir Bhatti From Pakistan City Karachi nbhatti3000@yahoo.com nbhatti3000@hotmail.com