Suite Habana (2003)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Fernando Pérez

Writer:

Fernando Pérez (writer)

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (Spain)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Dawn breaks in La Habana, and as the day advances we follow the simple lives of ten ordinary Cubans, with only sounds and images accompanied by music. |

Plot Keywords:

Slice Of Life | Cuba | Traditional

Awards:

19 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Heriberto Boroto	...	Himself
Iván Carbonell	...	Himself
Francisco Cardet	...	Himself
Francisquito Cardet	...	Himself
Julio Castro	...	Himself
Ernesto Díaz	...	Himself
Amanda Gautier	...	Herself
Waldo Morales	...	Himself
Raquel Nodal	...	Herself
Norma Pérez	...	Herself
Jorge Luis Roque	...	Himself
Juan Carlos Roque	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Havana Suite (International: English title)

Runtime:

Spain:84 min | USA:80 min | Argentina:85 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Cuba

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:T | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:A

Filming Locations:

La Habana, Cuba

Company:

Wanda Visión S.A.

Poetic

Its so easy to fall in the typical Cuban clichés, both for the filmmakers and for the viewers watching it. But Suite Habana is a beautiful movie. It doesn't talk about poor people. It talks about Cuban people. Its not against Fidel. Its just a quasi documentarian effort to tell the daily story of Cubans. Its the story of geographical separation. There are more than 5 million of Cubans living in exile. There's the story of a clown who has to work just hours after he said goodbye to his brother at the airport. There's the story of the Cuban couple that spends the entire day planning and setting up their night: going to dance "casino" to a club. Their only escape. In that country where Cubans get paid in "Pesos" and almost all the clubs have to be paid in "dollars" while 1 Dollar = 24 Pesos. Its the story of a talented ballet dancer who has to live an odissey to arrive to the "Gran Teatro de La Habana" for his show. In that same country where you have to ask the taxi driver where is HE going and not the other way. Because in Cuba the taxis for Cubans never go where you want to, they have their own routes whether is convenient or not. It doesn't matter. Thats why I say that its quasi docuemtarian because it tells stories that really happens. But despite of all this, Its beautiful. And its beautiful because it reflects how Cubans manage to find beauty everywhere. How they manage to keep dancing and smiling. How they manage to write tremendous novels. To make great films, to make great music. You have to watch this film. Technically its great. La Habana is one of the most photogenic cities in the world. But run 90 minutes without a dialogue its amazing. It keeps you interested, excited, emotive. Its a great great movie. Watch it!