This breath-taking documentary is a journey through improvised poetry and the unique musical cultural heritage of the Basque Country. A bertsolari is an improviser of verse sung in the Basque language, Euskera. An austerely aesthetic art form that surprises in this era of spectacle and special effects, it continues to enthral people from all generations and the remarkable championship finals draw an audience of many thousands. ¡Viva! veteran Altuna (Aupa Etxebeste!, 2006) echoed the methods of his subject matter, following his intuition to create a very personal piece, stating with pride “I feel like I have stood in front of a microphone and I have sung from the heart.”

Duration:
90 minutes

Languages:
Basque

Subtitles:
Full English

Country of origin:
Spain

Year of production:
2011