Liste d'attente

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. :)

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.

The comedy gives some ideas of the economical problems in Cuba, its objective and subjective difficulties to solve them. The passengers awaiting for a bus, which never comes, got slept and all dream the same thing. In that dream they decided to paint and to restore the terminal, and some couple had time to fall in love. The society is well shown, a young lady trying to go marry a Spanish businessman, a young man dreaming better life, a blind man who is not blind, an egoist and fat man with food stored when the other passengers have nothing to eat, a lady looking for herbs to prepare beverage for everyone, an inmigrant from Canary Islands who loves Cuba as his motherland, a couple with problems (more economical than any other) of living together,a very serious and responsible administrator of the terminal and the extremist who looks only for the directives and not for solving the difficulties. If you want to have a small idea of Cuba you may like to see this film.

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.

well done! That is reason why I love to watch foreign movies, they don't have to have lots of special effects, or fancy dresses, good makeups, etc. This movie is universal. Even though life is different in different countries, but humanity is the same.

While watching it, I was wondering how come there was no more bus coming to that station, and why didn't the girl who works at the station come to work again, etc, then it had a twist which totally surprised me.

The music was well selected, and I also like that one song which was specially composed for this movie. It is also funny to see them using a chest to bury a man, and they had to open the top drawer in order to pay last respect.

It is hard to make a film entirely based at a bus station, but the director is excellent. The actors are wonderful, the story is believable, that is why this movie still has a high rating. No matter how hard the situation is, where they are, people can always make the best out of their lives. Isn't life just like a bus station, people come into your life, but there will always be a time to say goodbye, and you will always have a fond memory of a few of those people you have met.