Viva

While the film is Ireland's official Oscar submission due to director Paddy Breathnach's home country (and source of financing), 'Viva' is a film set entirely in Havana, Cuba, and serves as a window into the unique world of Cuban drag performers at a local nightclub.

Our protagonist, Jesus (Héctor Medina), barely survives off meager wages and temporary work, but dreams of being a drag star like his mentor Mama (Luis Alberto García). His road to local stardom starts out extremely well as he has plenty of potential, but hits a major hurdle when his father, a convict, comes home unexpectedly from prison. As a former boxer, it isn't surprising to hear that his father does not care for his son's chosen career path (or his sexuality). The resulting drama is about being true to yourself and following your passions while keeping relationships in your life.

Every character is so distinctly different from the others, and this colorful group gives 'Viva' the necessary stakes to be fully invested in, and truly sell, the movie. Jesus's father, Angel (Jorge Perugorría), starts out as a one-dimensional brute, but it quickly becomes clear he is much more than that. The machismo culture that is present in this world in direct contrast to its flamboyant opposition in drag queens is a compelling world to occupy.

While the film meanders at times, it thankfully finds enough of a storyline to finish extremely strong and leave the audience emotionally moved. Each of the drag performances is spellbinding thanks to a fantastic soundtrack and outstanding emotional vulnerability from the various entertainers. These performances will be the film's calling card and what makes it so memorable. As a father-son drama, and as an introduction into a world foreign to many of us (especially here in the U.S., where Cuba just recently opened its doors to tourism), 'Viva' is a success all around. The title stems from the protagonist's stage name, which is a perfect message for a movie about living life the way you want to against all odds, and stepping out of your comfort zone in pursuit of success.

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Viva (2015) is an Irish film, set in Cuba, directed by Paddy Breathnach.

The film stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young gay man who is a professional hairdresser. He also works fixing the wigs of drag queens who perform at a local night club. Eventually, he performs in drag, and he turns out to be highly talented.

Jesus's mother is dead. His father killed a man, and has been in prison for 20 years. The plot begins when his father returns. Angel, played Jorge Perugorría, starts out as a unidimensional macho brute. However, director Breathnach is too talented to let him remain nothing more than a stereotype. An interesting relationship begins between father and son, and that's the real strength of the movie.

Well, that's one of the real strengths of the movie. The other strength is the music and the drag performances. These men are talented, and we don't just see little clips of their acts--the camera lingers on them, and their work draws you in.

We saw this movie in a special preview performance at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. The ImageOut LGBT Film Festival is one of the highlights of the year in Rochester, and ImageOut sponsored this special showing.

The director of ImageOut film selection, Michael Gamilla, told us that he saw this movie at a festival in Berlin, and begged the producer to let it be shown in Rochester. (It will be shown in the U.S., but only in limited release in larger cities.) Because the movie hasn't been released yet, a print was available, and Rochester got it. Good work by Michael; good luck for us.

This is a movie that will really work better on the large screen, because the drag performances will be diminished--literally and figuratively--on the small screen. If you live in New York, Chicago, Miami, or San Francisco, you may get a chance to see it in a theater. If not, try to get it on the small screen. You'll still enjoy it.

Jesus is a hairdresser in Cuba's capital and he works with the performers of a drag venue run by Mama – an effervescent and passionate man who can hold an audience – but needs the right wig. Jesus also does his wigs but longs to don the dresses, make up wigs and sparkle on stage like the drag acts he sees perform.

Then one day his estranged father turns up. He is an ex boxer with a dark past, a smoking and drinking habit and attitudes that make him anything but receptive to his sons wishes – sparks are gonna fly.

Now this is from Irish director Paddy Breathnatch ('Shrooms') and was co funded by The Irish Film Board – written by Mark O'Halloran, who also has a small part here and brought us 'Garage' as well as appearing in a number of films including 'The Guard'. As such the collaboration or Irish and Cuban talent works very well.

One of the biggest criticisms has been the failure to put sub titles to the songs that are performed in the film. It is in Spanish so naturally is sub titled, but the songs are not. Paddy Breathnatch has said this was to ensure the audience concentrated on the performances and not just try to read the words etc. Well I could have managed both and I am sure a few others could too. That said I really enjoyed this film, it is a great script, a strong cast and enough drama to keep a drama queen happy. Plus you get some fabulous performances on stage too, so it is a film I can recommend.

It is impressive how well an Irish team captures the reality of poverty everywhere, that this story takes place in Cuba and involves transvestites is not relevant. You can place it anywhere in the world and it will resonate as loud.

I think there is nothing out of place here. The locations, the clothing, the atmosphere transport you to the daily struggle of the dispossessed. How much hope can these people have? No safe jobs, no income, no food; nothing to hold to, nothing to lose. Still, with all their shortcomings, they also show solidarity; apparently everyone is on his/her own, but in times of need there will always be someone to lend a hand. And this is what made me like the movie, the perfect portrait of this part of society. It is what I have seen through the years in my country; this could have happened in Mexico City, and the occupation of the characters be any other, the fact of the pulling together is always there.

Whoever talks about drag performances, lip-syncing, bad editing, missed the whole point of the movie and has no idea what real life in poor Latin America is like. This is a crash course on the subject. The lengths this young boy goes to survive are impressive; to him, being alive is enough, what it takes doesn't scare him: Been there, done that. And so everybody else: his hustler friend, the old drag, the young woman, even the father with what is left for him. Only strength can hold someone in such dire conditions.

This is one of the most moving films I have seen in my life and, as I said before, that it is Irish makes it even more valuable. If you are going to watch it, do it with an open heart, you will feel the soul of real people in an all too real and difficult world. Believe me, this is no fiction, this is the real life.

Ireland director Paddy Breathnach's "VIVA" is yet more proof that the independent foreign film is alive and well. Relative new comer Hector Medina is Jesus, a young Havana hairdresser making ends meet (no pun intended) after his mother passes and his dad left at the age of three. With hairdresser fees low, and a chance to join the troupe of drag performers he styles wigs for, Jesus hits the stage only to be confronted by his past. While Mama (the touching Luis Alberto Garcia) tries to guide him, Jesus' father Angel (the confrontational Jorge Perugorria) slams the breaks on. Director Breathnach, along with writer/actor Mark O'Halloran, have captured the poverty stricken Havana-hood and various film locations perfectly, enabling the audience to understand the community, comprehend the stigmas, feel the tension and believe in complicated love. Featuring English subtitles, a fantastic unknown cast to the US film market (including the terrific Renata Maikel Machin Blanco), and an outstanding sound track, "VIVA" is much more than a drag show film. Recently shown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the film is now out in limited run. If you can find it, you won't be disappointed.