Spain, Cuba, France
Synopsis
Ruy and Tito, childhood friends, are two young Cuban musicians who struggle daily to survive in the island's particular economy. Like anyone, in order to eat they have to hustle a living from whatever turns up, and as artistes, in order to make themselves known, they record homemade demos and work at organizing their first concert. Despite countless obstacles, enthusiasm and humour keep hope alive.
Ruy is married to Caridad and, although they have two sons and still love each other, Ruy's unstable life, both financial and personal, has them on the verge of a heralded break-up.
The two friends meet Marta and Lorenzo, Spanish music producers who come to Cuba looking for young talent and, at what they think is their big chance, they set out to "conquer" the Spaniards. Ruy is chosen to seduce Marta and thus make sure they get to Spain but, as a result of this, Tito and Ruy neglect preparations for their concert, and Ruy abandons his family obligations. For her part, Caridad finally decides to divorce Ruy and leave with the children for the United Sates.
But the relationship with the Spaniards and the abusive conditions of the .contract" that they offer him and that will prevent him from returning to Cuba for a long time, make Ruy more and more annoyed with himself. Deeply affect by the personal crisis he is going through, in which everything he loves seems to be collapsing, the only way he finds to recover his self-esteem is to break with everything and distance himself from Tito who is still determined to leave despite everything.
The day of the concert arrives. Ruy has accepted to do it so as not to disappoint all the people who have been supporting him for so long in this project, but his heart is broken because his "brother" Tito is not there to share what had been a dream for both of them.
The first notes sound, the theatre is packed, there is a party atmosphere... Tito appears by surprise on the stage and magic manifests itself in a communion of rhythm and brotherhood.
Because music is a religion where the Cubans find their dignity.
Ruy is married to Caridad and, although they have two sons and still love each other, Ruy's unstable life, both financial and personal, has them on the verge of a heralded break-up.
The two friends meet Marta and Lorenzo, Spanish music producers who come to Cuba looking for young talent and, at what they think is their big chance, they set out to "conquer" the Spaniards. Ruy is chosen to seduce Marta and thus make sure they get to Spain but, as a result of this, Tito and Ruy neglect preparations for their concert, and Ruy abandons his family obligations. For her part, Caridad finally decides to divorce Ruy and leave with the children for the United Sates.
But the relationship with the Spaniards and the abusive conditions of the .contract" that they offer him and that will prevent him from returning to Cuba for a long time, make Ruy more and more annoyed with himself. Deeply affect by the personal crisis he is going through, in which everything he loves seems to be collapsing, the only way he finds to recover his self-esteem is to break with everything and distance himself from Tito who is still determined to leave despite everything.
The day of the concert arrives. Ruy has accepted to do it so as not to disappoint all the people who have been supporting him for so long in this project, but his heart is broken because his "brother" Tito is not there to share what had been a dream for both of them.
The first notes sound, the theatre is packed, there is a party atmosphere... Tito appears by surprise on the stage and magic manifests itself in a communion of rhythm and brotherhood.
Because music is a religion where the Cubans find their dignity.
Director's Biography
Born in Lebrija (Seville, Spain) in March 1965, Benito Zambrano studied at the Instituto de Teatro de la Diputación de Sevilla and at the International School of Cinema & TV in San Antonio de los Baños (Havana, Cuba). He graduated in Screenplay and Directing.
Filmography:
2005 HABANA BLUES
1999 SOLAS
1994 SILENCIOS (Scr.)
1993 LOS QUE SE QUEDARON, short
Filmography:
2005 HABANA BLUES
1999 SOLAS
1994 SILENCIOS (Scr.)
1993 LOS QUE SE QUEDARON, short
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Benito Zambrano
Written by: Ernesto Chao, Benito Zambrano
Produced by: Antonio Pérez
Cinematography: Jean-Claude Larrieu
Editing: Fernando Pardo
Production Design: Juan García Prieto
Original Score: Equis Alfonso, Dayan Abad, Descemer Bueno, Kiki Ferrer, Kelvis Ochoa, José Luis Garrido, Juan Antonio Leyva
Cast: Roberto Sanmartin (Tito), Yailene Sierra (Caridad), Alberto Yoel Garcia, Roberto Sanmartin, Alberto Yoel Garcia (Ruy), Yailene Sierra
Nominations and Awards
- Feature Film Selection 2005
