7 jours à la Havane

I watched 7 days in Havana as omnibus connected together by Havana, not by a plot. Young American and Emir Kusturica helped me to travel into the city myself and to enjoy in it on the similar way as when I was really there. I did not expect from characters in the movie to make a coherent story as for me this movie in his big part is a documentary. Characters represent how somebody Cuban living there feels, which are his main joys, sufferings and believes. Also how does feel somebody coming there from outside. Bad side of the movie for me was our famous director Kusturica acting himself in alcoholism and on ego trip, also contributing to documentary, it would be better if he was more fictional. The ritual of Santeria was the most documentary part for me as I have never seen it on the screen. This contrast: Christianity and African magic changing for centuries but still alive for me is one of the strongest impressions. Also dilemma of Young beautiful singer that is certainly dilemma of many talented Cuban people for me was so important as it was the beauty of her and her sexy boyfriend. The beauty of the city, of its people and their music are the point for me and they can really satisfy somebody who can be patient enough to see all these kinds of Havana beauty and enjoy in it.

'Seven (or if you prefer, '7') Days in Havana' is a series of little filmettes, each by one of seven directors, set in Havana. At first it seems the connecting thread between the segments is foreigners: a US student dates a drag artist, a Serbian film director attends a film festival, a Palestinian man waits to see the President... but the later segments concentrate on Cubans: a young woman caught in a lesbian relationship is forced to undergo a cleansing ritual; an old woman bullies her neighbours into building a fountain for the Virgin Mary in her living room... The quality is variable (I nodded off during the lesbian one, which really drags; but found the fountain in the living room segment with its colourful characters and lively storyline most enjoyable), but in the main I enjoyed the total package. How accurate a portrayal of modern-day Cuba it is I don't know, though.

I will keep this review short and spoiler-free.

"7 Days In Havana" is a compilation of seven short stories, each with it's own director and character(s). The first two "days" seemed to be taking the film in the right direction, but after that everything fell apart.

Some elements try to bridge together some of the "days", but the whole structure of the storytelling ends up being an inconsistent mess.

I thought that all the cliché representations of Cuba would be lacking, but "7 days in Havana" gives almost nothing new.

A wasted Saturday night for a movie I would not re-watch.

The seven days, segments and directors are Monday (El Yuma, Benicio del Toro; Yuma is Cuban slang for "American" or "gringo"), Tuesday (Jam Session, Pablo Trapero), Wednesday (The Temptation of Cecilia, Julio Medem), Thursday (Diary of a Beginner, Elia Suleiman), Friday (Ritual, Gaspar Noe), Saturday (Dulce Amargo, Juan Carlos Tabío), Sunday (The Fountain, Laurent Cantet).

As in any many-director movie the final product is somewhat uneven, but all segments contribute to an atmospheric picture of modern Cuba and of its problems (e. g. the temptation to leave in search of a seemingly better future and the consequences). Tabío's segment is the most moving (with the always excellent Jorge Perugorría and an excellent cast) and, as expected, Suleiman's contribution is whimsical and humorous. All segments are worth watching.

I wanted to like this movie. And I did. Sort of - about half of the novels are good. The other ones are simply weak. And, as previous reviewer mentioned, there is a disconnect after the second novel, and I had to bridge the gaps in my own imagination.

But despite this, and despite the lack of one common story, there is a humour, there is a feeling and flavor of Cuba. And, as Havana is an eclectic mix of languages, cultures and ideologies, so is this movie. So, in a strange way, it fits.

Not a masterpiece, but has its good moments. Personally, I expected to hear much more music, though.