Habana Blues

This film starts off poor underground music players that you think are never going to make it, and you think that is the only story to the film; but when you get further into the film you see a large part of the Cuban culture. There are people that do not want to sell out and going to a country where it is easier to get popular, there are people that want to get popular at any cost, and there are people that must leave in order to better their family. This film is great at portraying this, because it is not over dramatized.

The theme of music is a little overwhelming in the film because music is constantly being played to the point where it should be classified as a musical; but the music is very culturally sound with Cuban sounds, this keeps the viewer interested in watching the film. The music plays along with the plot, and gets poppy when the movie is exciting, and slower romantic music when the film is trying to portray intimacy.

The actors are pretty good; the main actor goes through many changes through the film. From wanting to do drugs, sex, and rock & role, to towards the end, wishing that he were more of a family provider; he knows at the end that he must let go of something to keep another. These decisions at the end is what made the film for me, it makes it real, and not over dramatized; which makes the viewer relate more.

I've just seen this film at the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival and this is truly an Oscar worthy piece of art. The music was great, the story, sad to say, timeless. This film shows the hardships one goes thru in Cuba to make it big and leave the island. The sacrifices and tough choices one must make in order to live the life they feel is best for themselves.

This film has great dialog, and a great cast. After traveling to Cuba for the past four years, it shows the way Cubans live and struggle with certain topics such as honest, cheating, and what friendships are all about.

Not a dry eye in the house after the screening. Honestly, the best film I've seen all year. A must see!

Just saw the movie, together with some 140 students (14 - 17 years old, Dutch but mixed backgrounds) Was an absolutely gorgeous experience. Not used to non-Hollywood productions, they were both chocked and charmed by the non-happy ending, and they did really like both the story and the music, as well as the film's central ideas of love and friendship. I'd recommend it to every teacher that wants to do something with either music or history or politics or drama or a combination of any of these subjects to use the film for educational purposes, esp. with not all-too self-confidential / intellectually orientated groups of students. At least in the Dutch version, there was perhaps a bit too much sex (at least what the Muslim viewers were concerned) but that need not bother too much...

This is not a movie for u to buy. This is how Cuban "fight" each others, how they deal with love and friendships with deceptions and hopes. Even when this, has been a bit censured and some of the "real" Cuba is still left out. Those that want to find out a bit more of how Cubans live, have to put together this movie and several others. I do recommend Suite Habana and Strawberry and Chocolote (from the more recent history of the Cuban filmography) and Los sobrevivientes and La muerte de un burocrata, older ones. This, as a film, is not as good as Suite Havana and Strawberry... this is a bit more traditional production and follows the scheme of modern Cuban comedies. I gave it an 8 because it does show part of the Cuban way of living (incomplete of course - check above). Music is terrific. Enjoy together with close friends, maybe beer (or even Cuban Rum if at hand). Keep children away though.

Benito Zambrano's 'Habana Blues' has got all the clichés to make it marketable internationally. The story is very deja-vu and unfortunately, there isn't much to offer. Nothing new in any case. The themes of friendship, partying etc have been done to death. In the first half, the pace just drags on. For a movie that's about music, one would expect at least a few great tracks and here while the instrumental tracks work to an extent, the songs fail because either the lyrics are syrupy or they're too preachy. The execution is quite poor. Cinematography is flat and the background score give it an out-of-date feel. The only sequences that got my attention were the ones with Caridad. This is perhaps majorly due to Yailene Sierra's terrific performance. In addition, I also liked the scenes with Tito's grandmother. Roberto Sanmartin is passable while Alberto Yoel's wooden acting is one of the major factors that contribute to 'Habana Blues's list of flaws. As a whole, 'Habana Blues' just did not work for me.