El Sistema - Music to change life (a film by Paul Smaczny & Maria Stodtmeier)

"…the main emphasis here is placed upon the missionary zeal of José Antonio Abreu, the visionary politician who masterminded the Sistema… Abreu's staunchly held belief in the capacity of music to better people's lives is nowhere more eloquently illustrated than in the extensive exploration of the performing opportunities that have become available to children living in the crime-ridden ghettoes of the country's main cities."
(BBC Music)

"This inspiring film, subtitled "music to change life", takes us behind the scenes of the worldwide phenomenon of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela… Their founding father is José Antonio Abreu, composer, conductor and politician, who cuts an almost mystical figure in this stunningly photographed film by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier. El Sistema comes with several awards to its name. Surely it can't be long before its remarkable founder Abreu is the recipient of a prize for peace?"
(Gramophone)