Seville’s " Las Tres Mil ", the most marginal and dangerous gypsy " barrio " in Spain is the hub of Flamenco and birthplace to all of the biggest Flamenco artists. Set in " Las Tres Mil ", Seville’s infamous slum neighborhood, this documentary offers especially powerful and complex footage of this barrio’s mix of well-known artists, traditional flamenco fused with modern music, and the social problems of its drug-infested gypsy community. Director Dominique Abel has adeptly structured her documentary around the preparation of an open-air concert for area residents. The concert is a tribute to artist and personality Pepe el Quemao. " Tio Pepe ", as he is commonly known, was a poet, storyteller, and songwriter of tunes that have been sung over and over again as covers by countless artists on their albums and tours.
The concert preparations, the difficulties involved in organizing such an event in a place like Las Tres Mil – such as locating some of the artists who live in the centre of " The Bronx ", one of the toughest neighborhoods, where nobody wants to go in fear of extorsion and murder – then the concert itself, behind the scenes, and the post-concert party - give us the opportunity to get to know these talented people from Seville’s poorest neighborhood, where they share the happiness and hardships of their community.