ma-cortes
It's a romantic drama carried out with sense and sensibility . It is set in Cuba about the fifties , when people-smuggling substitutes the liquor bootlegging . As Simon (Jorge Perugorria) was a bootlegger , but he is now a human smuggler who transports people to Florida keys . There , the emigrants are left to their luck . His underling is Andres (Aléx Gonzalez) who is injured by shots carried out by a machine gun from a coast guard ship . Later on , Simon carries him to a brothel run by a Madame (Broselianda Hernández) , and where is healed by the prostitutes . But there also resides virginal Marie (Ana De Armas) , Simon's protégée . Then , there takes place a unrelentingly passionate romance between two conflicting characters , Andres and Marie . They fall in love and is originated the standard and eternal loving triangle with unexpected consequences . As Simon attempts to avoid his henchman escapes with his protégée . The movie has romance , drama , tragedy , a love story and is pretty entertaining . It includes some nudism and a little bit of action when the smuggler boat is pursued and shot by the coast guard ship . Filmmaker Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón successfully creating a portrait of the Cuban nation falling into moral decay . The usual as well as entertaining triangular drama is overspread throughout the movie , but not totally satisfactory , including conventional pitfalls . The picture is acceptable ,though the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this sometimes slow-moving flick , though also contains interesting scenes , thrilling images and sensitive moments . Anyway, its is compensated with the great performances from main cast . As a decent acting by protagonist trio , as a two-fisted and likable Jorge Perugorria , who plays a wonderful dancing with the Madame well performed by Broselianda Hernández ; Aléx Gonzalez as a good-looking and agreeable young smuggler who bears a guilty feeling for his lover and a very young Ana De Armas as virgin girl to be loved by her suitors . Atmospheric musical score with Cuban sounds by Xavier Capellas , who composes a stirring soundtrack , including a catching song titled ¨Una Rosa De Francia¨. Colorful as well as evocative cinematography by Alfredo Mayo who shows splendidly streets , promenades , sets , and mansions of La Habana .The motion picture perfectly produced by magnificent producer Gerardo Herrero was compellingly directed by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon , a good Spanish movies director . Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón was born on January 2, 1942 in Torrelavega, Cantabria, where uses to set most of films , including Valley Pas . He is a writer and director, known for Habla, Mudita (1973), Camada Negra (1977) , Maravillas (1981) , Demonios en el Jardín (1982) , Feroz (1984) , Visionarios (2001) and this his last movie Todos Estamos Invitados (2008) . He began working in cinema in 1973 when he filmed ¨Habla Mudita ¨ , this debut feature by acclaimed Spanish director deals with a strange relationship between a mature men and a mute villager and set in rural country from Valley Pas similarly to La Vida Que Te Espera (2004) . And , of course , this ¨Una Rosa De Francia¨ that along with ¨Cosas Que Deje En Habana¨ forms a diptych dealing with Cuban world . Manuel Gutierrez is a well recognized filmmaker both nationally and internationally, and in proof of it he won many prizes among which there are the following ones : David di Donatello Awards , Moscow International Film Festival , and San Sebastian International Festival award to ¨Demonios en Jardin¨ , Goya Awards 1987 to ¨La Mitad del Cielo¨ , Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain and Berlin Internation Festival 1996 to ¨Rey del Rio¨ , Biarritz International Festival awards and Goyas 2003 to ¨Caballero Don Quijote¨ , among others
francoca
I have difficulty someone telling me or coaching how I should be looking at the movie. After all I am the one that is watching and not you............Okay, I have to admit, I just started it. I had it for a couple of days and I am in the first 17 minutes, when the Marinero just reached the house when the girls where down for breakfast, and the shot young man just got up from recovering from the shots he got from the American Coast Guards.Sorry, I began liking the movie. You are right it has color. But I can not help but notice that the begging of the movie has a message from the Cuban Regime, talking about people smuggling into the United States insinuating the current state, where some Cuban exiles have be running an smuggling Cubans into the United States for money...... Sorry I just notice that and the message. The same message that I saw in 90 Millas, where the Cuban Government states don't leave the country there is nothing in the United States that we do not have or something like that. Alex Garcia (the taxi driver, did not hear the message, he is now in Miami doing comedy.Okay, I am going to watch the rest of the movie, but I most admit, I am going to be watching for "sublimital" messages form the Cuban government.
clare_f
it may not be accurate but having heard the director talk about his film in person i can tell you he did not intend it to be a historical or political piece. it is a love story that is enjoyable to watch so people should stop criticising it for not being something it was never intended to be. if people did stop pointing out whats wrong with it for one second they may be able to see whats right about it. For example, the colours and sets used create a beautiful feeling and transport the viewers to the golden era when beauty was so important to cinematography. overall i would describe this film as charming, it may not be for everyone but i know that there will be many who can appreciate this film for what it is without immediately criticising it for attempting to be something it never wanted to be in the first place.
bunnycheeks56
I totally disliked the movie and it seemed to be the consensus of everyone that got up and left. The time line that is advertised under...wrong. The content repulsively out of context even for a story being told ....I mean who was he trying to insult, bad actor Perugurria, bad theme, the Americans do not intercept Cubans at sea with machine guns, we did not pay for smuggling in the 50's, 40's, 30's common! not even in the 60's, 70's or 80's.......chinese people in Cuba or all over the world.....I hope his world premiere is short lived....garbage, not even artistry in the movie. And let's not forget the bad judgement of the Film organizers to pick this movie!!!! What bad judgement.
