Havana Noir - Le indagini di Mario Conde

I really enjoyed this series. It was well acted and had an interesting story line. I felt the nuances of the Cuban culture were well played out. You could feel the constant threat of being watched by Big Brother but at the same time the friendships seemed to help make the day to day living tolerable and at times enjoyable. I hope they do more with this series!

When I watch this series I get nostalgic. The language is Cuban to perfection, the mixed feelings hit me deep in my soul and everything I can think of is my Cuban coffee and the uniqueness of our culture. Yes I am in love with this show. The actors are all some of my favorites. I am so happy they got to work in something that is mixed with humor, cubanism, hypocrisy and great cinematography. Its poestry!!!

First, I have to say that I am a Cuban, living here in Havana. Several of the scenes regarding the murder of the young teacher were shot a few blocks away from my parent's home. If you really wanna understand completely the plot(s) you have to read the books by Leonardo Padura. Better still if you can read those directly in Spanish. I live in a very rough neighborhood, accurately depicted in the series. The characters are quite realistic; they act, talk, think just as described. Cuban police is very much alike the police forces in the series. (Even when the headquarters is not an actual police station, but a beachside resort, ahahaahaha) I've read an user complaining about weak police drama; I have to disagree. First, murder in Cuba, even in Havana, is not a very common deed. Homicides occur, but usually with close to none planning, as a result of a quarry, over women, or crime- related account settings. This user also says that crooks usually confess without needing to; but then you have to understand the way we Cubans think about crime and punishment. Usually when somebody does something very wrong, the bet is on not being caught, on remaining clear of the police. But once caught, almost everybody thinks that the game is over (and it usually is). Cuban police does not use torture, in the Abu-Graib way, but they have a lot of very capable officials pushing on every button of the suspect's mind to obtain a confession. So, the series is also realistic in the relation between crooks and police. Police forces are depicted the way they are: a non monolithic organization, where you are going to find good, not so good, and frankly bad, persons, with their real lives, conflicts, mistakes, struggling to do the good the best way they can find. Again, my advise, read the books by Padura

I was extremely surprised at the pleasure the show gives. I have never heard of a show that appears to have been made in Cuba. I didn't know much about Cuba but was fascinated with it from an early age. I love the taxis I love the music. I seriously hope they can come up with the elusive spondylous in amounts that will allow them to make further episodes.

This is an outstanding police drama. The characters are complex and multifaceted. Jorge Perugorría's performance is masterful as Mario Conde, a Cuban Harry Bosch-like police investigator, facing his own demons as well as those within the system in which he must work.

But beyond the story and characters, the images of Havana and its people are mesmerizing. You could watch this series of 2-hour dramas just for what seem like paintings on film. At points I paused the film just to look at the color palette of Havana. Simply stunning.