Mucho Corazon

A musical love story
Leon Perlee restores antique street organs in Holland's oldest surviving street organ business. On the other side of the Atlantic, Cubans too play these unusual instruments. On a visit to Cuba, Leon meets Milades Sosa, the niece of a craftsman in the organ factory. For both of them, it was love at first sight.

But strict immigration laws and visa restrictions keep Leon and Milades physically apart. Corresponding through words and music they hope they will eventually be reunited forever. But will they?

"Mucho Corazon" is the title of a1950's love song popularised by the famous Cuban singer Benny More. The title translates as "With a lot of heart"

Produced by Michelle Ernstein and Chris Brookes, with special thanks to Homelands Productions and Radio Netherlands. Recorded in Amsterdam and The Hague (Netherlands) and Havana and Holguin (Cuba).

First broadcast by Radio Netherlands, 1998
US version by This American Life 1999 (U.S. version editor: Sandy Tolan)

AWARDS: Special Commendation, Prix Europa 1999

The only street organ factory in the Americas
Holguin, Cuba