Lista de espera

I woke up this morning with a hangover and decided to watch this film that I had recorded many months ago. What a good decision that turned out to be! It is simply a wonderful movie. It is funny, romantic and inspiring. The less you know about the story the better. I want to read the book now.

I have never been to Cuba and I don't know that much about it either, especially not about their cinema. So, when I saw that this movie was on television I immediately taped it. I've seen it now and it left me with a double feeling. I liked it, but not as much as I expected. I loved the subtle critics that it gave on Castro's bureaucratic regime and it gives a very good idea on what Cuba's society must be like with its economic problems and helpful people who have learned to live with all the difficulties in their country.

A group of people has to stay in a bus station because the only bus that the station has, broke down. You'll see a young lady who wants to marry a Spanish businessman to get out of Cuba, a man who pretends to be blind because of the many advantages handicapped people get, an egoist and fat man with food stored when the other passengers have nothing to eat, the extremist public servant who looks only for the directives and not for a solution for all the difficulties...

What I didn't like that much about the movie was it's pace. I thought it was a bit slow... from time to time much wasn't happening, but perhaps that was exactly what the director was looking for. Perhaps this is how he wanted to show us the boredom of these people.

All in all it isn't a bad movie. This isn't a comedy that will make you laugh out loud, but it sure will make you smile several times and it gives you an insight on what Cuba is like. I give it a 6.5/10.

It is a simple movie pleasant and well directed. Fresh air: a collective dream where the characters give the best of themselves.You feel criticism and meanwhile deep hope in potentialities of Cuba society.

I perceived something of Bunuel's films here, but without his cynism. 'Lista de espera' is a naive movie worth to see.

This satiric comedy from Cuba has a way to point out about that, in spite of years of hard times and sacrifice, things are just bad, if not worse than before. The last crop of films from that country seem to be critical to the situation there as in the case with Fernando Perez's "Suite Habana" and even in previous films by Mr. Tabio, notably, "Plaff", "Guantanamera", and "Fresa y chocolate".

This picture tackles, in a subtle way, some of the problems most Cubans face. In this case, it's the chaotic public transportation system in Cuba. Like anything coming from this type of cinema, what one is watching has a deeply different meaning for the locals, who can identify with a situation that appears to have no solution.

Thus, we are taken to a remote small bus station where several people in need of transportation to all parts of the island have come to try to find means of getting to their destinations. Unfortunately, the local bus, based at the station, is being repaired and is soon evident that it's not going anywhere. In the meantime, the one bus that comes by, could only take one passenger, but as people try to storm the bus, it pulls out, leaving everyone stranded.

Among the passengers one gets to know what motivates them to travel, as confidences are exchanged. The film makes one thing clear, and it is the Cuban character in accepting what comes their way and making the best out of the situation with humor. This society seems to make good of that saying about when God gives one lemons, one makes lemonade!

Among the performers in the film, Vladimir Cruz and Thaimi Alvarino, stand out. They play Emilio, an engineer, returning home to work in his father's plot of land as an agricultural laborer. Jacqueline, the pretty woman is trying to get to Havana where her fiancé, a Spaniard, is arriving to marry her and is taking her back to Spain with him. We also get to see Rolando, a man that pretends to be blind in order to get a preferential treatment and go ahead of everyone else because of his condition. This situation is closely disputed by all the people that have been waiting for days without any hope of going anywhere. Jore Perugorria, a frequent collaborator of Mr. Taibo does good work as Rolando, the blind man.

Talk about stoicism! This is a tribute to the Cuban character! Juan Carlos Tabio has directed with his usual flair, making this a winning film that will please anyone.

I saw this film as it was presented on the Oslo cinema days, a few days ago. And it really has the touch i long for in films, the warmth, the people, the life, the love. I liked it very much to the time it turns - but it's a good one after that too. Watch it, enjoy it, and enjoy life as it's handed to you. :)