Venice, the new film by Enrique Álvarez
The Cuban capital city recently learned about the shooting of a new adventure in the national cinema: "Venecia" (Venice), the most recent project by director Enrique (Kiki) Álvarez, who strengthens his love with different locations of the city.
The theme of the movie, which is not far away from classic Cuban movies such as "Lucía", "Guantanamera" or "Retrato de Teresa," looks towards women in current Cuba.
In a singular way and following Kiki's suggestive style-efficiently tasted in "La Ola"-this movie proposes a reflection on the transitional period from adolescence into adulthood in females and it covers the entire personal relationsships matrix that surround them.
Without advancing much to the press, Álvarez demonstrates that the new effort is not only depending upon this theme treated with a certain level of sufficiency, but he also narrates once again a story written by the young scriptwriter and actress Claudia Muñiz, to bet it all on one hand.
The movie narrates the story of three women who work in a state beauty shop and who on payment day, decide to accompany one of them to buy a dress, where several unexpected events make them spend the night together and to have the common dream of opening a beauty shop of their own which they call Venice.
As in two of his full-length movies-"La Ola" (1994) and "Marina" (2011)-this unavoidable lover of author cinema takes all over again his best configured poetics, the one which offers a certain level of minimalism where people might notice at some points little transcendence in the plots.
That is why Álvarez's proposals tend to come up with a welcome to the spectator produced through that thing that he calls "minimal events plot," which are apparently insignificant but extremely revealing and indispensable to close the final circle of all understanding.
Maybe Kiki turns Havana once again into a character that is present in the entire movie, and places in the image of the ancient city its own voice, because if there is something that has always been done by Álvarez is to make her talk constantly with small realities that mold the subjectivity of "being Cuban."
"Venice" already seems to be an announced mystery, a questioning to the precedence of the dreams, apart from the manifesto made explicit in its origins, because the director stands firmly in this task.
Álvarez demonstrated in his previous attempts that he is completely dedicated to finding a truth that is not clear yet, but which keeps us awake. The years that have passed since his last movie have made him think ideas, and to project himself towards an interior search reflected in his characters.
And that is great news, because in our current cinema there tend to be correct characterizations, but we are unable to find an attractive and competent character which apart from being well constructed, may also evidence a deep exploration of human behavior.
Cuban Film on Life after Nuclear War Premieres in Havana
"The disasters of war¨", the most recent film by Cuban director Tomás Piard, which tells about life after a nuclear holocaust, will have its premiere in Charles Chaplin cinema of this capital.
The new film, produced by the Cuban Radio and Television Institute, the Cuban Institute of Arts and Cinematographic Industry and the Faculty of Audiovisual Media at the University of Arts, will be exhibited throughout the country starting on October 4
The film tells the story of 7 survivors of a nuclear war who are trying to go on with their lives. The cast is made up of young Cuban actors, including the leading star of the musical “Irremediablemente juntos”, Orian Sanchez
“This is a movie of hope and faith because it offers life after the end and the characters show ethical and sentimental values that can exist, even in lost and sad world” Piard told reporters.
He also highlighted the influence upon him of the world situation, especially in the Middle East, a region he feels particularly attached to.
The director noted that the need to shoot this film comes from the worries he has for the future of humankind and his restlessness in the face of the real danger a nuclear war poses upon us.
Verde, verde conquers the old continent
The Cuban film Verde, verde, made by the veteran filmmaker Enrique Pineda Barnet, will take part during the rest of 2012 in important international events in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Slovenia.
From the 5th and until the 14th of October, the movie will take part in the Parisian Cheries-Cheris, XVIII Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Festival, while from the 25th and until the 31st of October, will take part in the Italian city of Florence in the Florence Queer Festival.
The Spanish public will have the chance to see the movie during the XII International Cinema Festival of Catalonia, LGTIB, to be held from the 25th of October until the 5th of November and at the XVII LASGAICINEMAD, to be held from the 1st and until the 7th of November in Madrid.
Verde, verde will be exhibited from the 8th and until the 14th of November in Bern, Switzerland, at the Queersicht Film Festival, while from the 24th of November and until the 2nd of December, will be presented at the Ljubljana Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Slovenia.
This production of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Arts and Industry (ICAIC, after its initials in Spanish), has the script written by Pineda Barnet, the production by Santiago Llapur, the photography by Raul Rodriguez Cabrera, the sound design and mixture by OsmanyOlivare, the setting by Pedro Suarez, the artistic direction by Nieves Laferte, set design by Alai Ortiz and musical direction by Juan Piñera.
The producer of Cosmorama (1965), David (1967), Mella (1975), Aquellalarganoche (1979), Tiempo de amar (1981), La bella del Alhambra (1989), Angelitomío (1998), First (1997) and La anunciación (2009) said about his resent movie: "The genre of this movie could be a tragic or psychological thriller and its topic is love against hate. This local but universal situation takes place in an unknown time, in any dock of Caribbean Sea.
Regarding the topics discussed in this movie, he stated that: "Extremism, prejudices and phobias lead to the destruction of the society. Sexual preference does not determine human values. The right to the differences facing prejudices and phobias has to be considered. I want to highlight human values such as love and authenticity".
Reports from www.cubarte-english.cult.cu
Cuba 50 