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HABANA BLUES
**** out of *****
Reviewed by Jarrod Baker Screening in the 2007 World Cinema Showcase
Back to KP's WSC Coverage  Genres
Drama
Musical
2005
Directed by
Benito Zambrano
Writing credits
Ernesto Chao
Benito Zambrano
Cast
Alberto Yoel ... Ruy
Roberto Sanmartin ... Tito
Yailene Sierra ... Caridad
Tomas Cao ... Alex
Zenia Marabal ... Luz Maria
Marta Calvo ... Marta
Roger Pera ... Lorenzo
Julie Ladagnous ... Julie Any film focusing on Cuban music is inevitably going to be compared to Buena Vista Social Club.  And okay, Habana Blues does feature Cubans, and music, and Cuban music. But that's pretty much where the similarities end. Among other things, Habana Blues isn't a documentary, and focuses on a considerably younger group of musicians. Rock musicians. In fact, one band featured briefly but notably appear to be Cuban death metallers. It's almost worth going to see the film just for that reason – as it turns out, Cuban death metal is awesome. This brief glimpse of Cuban death metal awesomeness however does mean that the comparatively pedestrian music produced by the film's main protagonists, Ruy (Alberto Yoel) and Tito (Roberto Sanmartín) can seem a bit lacklustre (and it doesn't help that lyrics that sound fine in Spanish look really dumb when translated into English subtitles). Despite this Ruy and Tito's quest for musical success is surprisingly compelling. The two are longstanding songwriting partners, in the process of putting together a big concert at a run-down Havana theatre. Upon hearing that some Spanish producers are in town scouting for Cuban musicians to represent, Ruy and Tito begin aggressively courting them, seeing them as their ticket out of Cuba. Although the Spaniards are enthusiastic about the duo's music (helped in no small part by Ruy's seduction of one of the producers) all is not plain sailing – as they're confronted with the contractual and political realities of leaving the country to work overseas, not to mention the  people they might leave behind. Habana Blues presents an authentic-feeling snapshot of modern day Cuba. Interestingly, although some of the music could almost be considered seditious, it generally stays away from political issues, presenting the main problem facing the average Cuban (and the reason they might want to leave Cuba) as poverty rather than political oppression. The film was an official selection at Cannes in 2005, and has since won a raft of (mostly Spanish) awards, including nods for best directing, best editing, best actor and best score. It's not hard to see why – it's a competent, watchable film, if a little slow moving in parts. And the music is really quite good, even if the lyrics are a bit lame in translation. Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts) Auckland screenings at the Academy Cinema
Fri 16 Mar 2007 - 11.30 am
Mon 19 Mar 2007 - 4:00 pm
Tue 20 Mar 2007 - 8:30 pm
Sat 24 Mar 2007 - 11:45 am Wellington screenings at the Paramount Theatre
Thu 29 Mar 2007 - 1:15 pm
Sun 1 Apr 2007 - 6:15 pm Christchurch screenings at Rialto Cinemas
Tue 24 Apr 2007 - 8:30 pm
Wed 25 Apr 2007 - 11:45 am Dunedin screenings at the Regent Theatre
Wed 2 May 2007 - 3:45 pm
Thu 3 May 2007 - 8:15 pm |
