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Life Is to Whistle

Original title: La vida es silbar
  • 19981998
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
694
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
La vida es silbar (1998)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Music
Three characters in present-day Havana must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Ballerina Mariana has promised God celibacy... Read allThree characters in present-day Havana must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Ballerina Mariana has promised God celibacy if she gets the role of "Giselle"; Social-worker Julia always faints after hearing a cert... Read allThree characters in present-day Havana must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Ballerina Mariana has promised God celibacy if she gets the role of "Giselle"; Social-worker Julia always faints after hearing a certain word; and pot-smoking percussionist Elpidio was abandoned by his mother, coincidentall... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
694
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Fernando Pérez
  • Writers
    • Humberto Jiménez
    • Fernando Pérez
    • Eduardo del Llano
  • Stars
    • Luis Alberto García
    • Coralia Veloz
    • Claudia Rojas
Top credits
  • Director
    • Fernando Pérez
  • Writers
    • Humberto Jiménez
    • Fernando Pérez
    • Eduardo del Llano
  • Stars
    • Luis Alberto García
    • Coralia Veloz
    • Claudia Rojas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos10

    La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    Claudia Rojas in La vida es silbar (1998)
    La vida es silbar (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Luis Alberto García
    • Elpidio Valdesas Elpidio Valdes
    Coralia Veloz
    • Juliaas Julia
    Claudia Rojas
    • Marianaas Mariana
    Ana Victoria Pérez
    • Bebeas Bebe
    Isabel Santos
    Rolando Brito
    • Dr. Fernandoas Dr. Fernando
    Juan Manuel Reyes
    • Ismaelas Ismael
    Monica Guffanti
    • Mme. Garcesas Mme. Garces
    Veronica Milagros
    • Cándidaas Cándida
    • (as Veronica Diaz)
    Manuel Porto
    • Taxista que lloraas Taxista que llora
    Raúl Pomares
    • Taxistaas Taxista
    Luis Ubaldo Penitez
    • Settimioas Settimio
    • (as Luis Ubaldo Benitez)
    Michaelis Cue
    • Hombrecitoas Hombrecito
    Jorge Molina
    • Cycle Driveras Cycle Driver
    Aramís Delgado
    • Vigonas Vigon
    Tito Junco
    • Santeroas Santero
    Norma Kent
    • Turista en taxias Turista en taxi
    Miguel A. Daranas
    • Director Asiloas Director Asilo
    • Director
      • Fernando Pérez
    • Writers
      • Humberto Jiménez
      • Fernando Pérez
      • Eduardo del Llano
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Three characters in present-day Havana must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Ballerina Mariana has promised God celibacy if she gets the role of "Giselle"; Social-worker Julia always faints after hearing a certain word; and pot-smoking percussionist Elpidio was abandoned by his mother, coincidentally named Cuba, some time ago and has not yet gotten over the loss. —Gonz30
    • public nudity
    • male nudity
    • nudity
    • naked in public
    • social nudity
    • 252 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Tres historias, tres personajes y un fin común: la búsqueda de la felicidad en La Habana de hoy.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Music
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in La vida es filmar (1998)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Life is to Whistle Review sltc812@u.washington.edu
    Reading the other comments on the page and seeing the movie, I enjoyed Life is to Whistle. I saw use of the different words, like "sex" when the girl fainted, meant to be like people weren't using the words in the same way and they weren't using freedom in an everyday sense. When things are forbidden, the characters had a psychological reaction and thus they responded with reflexive actions like fainting or yawning. I think this was the director's commentary. I enjoyed how the three people were represented from the time they were children and how, as they grew up, they had their own separate lives that went on. Julia dedicated herself to being a caregiver, forgetting about herself and her own needs. When Julia brought in her daughter and left her at the orphanage, Elpidio was there and he accepted her as a little sister. Growing up not talking, she would whistle instead. The dancer Mariana wanted a part so badly that she vowed celibacy to God if he gave her a certain part in a dance. This is how she expressed her passion. People in the movie did not use the words "freedom" or "love" and sex was not had because of people's love for each other. People were not used to hearing these words, and it would make them faint when they eventually did. This movie is a typical representation of Cuban cinema because it talks about patriotism and freedom; it shows how poor the country is but that despite the lack of money, they did the best that they could to make their lives their own. There are also undertones of betrayal and how the country betrays its own residents, shown by Elpidio burning the tattoo off of his back. Overall, this movie was not outstanding but it was from the point of view of Latin America and it was speaking to the people of Havana, letting them know that they could have freedom and that "love" and "freedom" need to be brought back into the community.
    helpful•3
    1
    • sltc812
    • Nov 9, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 1999 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Cuba
      • Spain
    • Language
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Life is to Whistle
    • Production companies
      • Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC)
      • Wanda Films
      • Wanda Visión S.A.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $63,574
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,846
      • Jan 9, 2000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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