Quatro Estações em Havana

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.

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.

In my country this was broadcast in eight episodes of a bit less than an hour each, where each season in Havana, which equals 1 murder mystery, was split into 2 episodes. The good part: if you (like me) are a fan of Havana's special atmosphere, with its old 50s cars, revolutionary murals, and decaying colonial-era houses, then it'll be worth your while watching the show and you'll enjoy every minute of it. We get beautiful Havana landscapes, amazing drone shots, views of streets and neighborhoods both poor and rich, peeks inside grand houses of yesteryear, some in better condition, some in worse, old telephones, wonderful decor. The colors, the atmosphere are stunning. The people part is also great - we get to see beautiful Cubans all around (and they are very beautiful), along with some less beautiful of course, but that's life. We also get to see most of the beautiful ones having sex, and they make a great sight. Still on the positive side, themes that might once have been taboo in Communist Cuba are freely discussed, including drug use in schools, official corrpution, people escaping to the U.S., past repression of homosexuals, drag queens, parodies of the official ideology ("machismo-leninism" was a good one), etc. The impression was that nothing was off the table, even for this production which is Cuban-Spanish. Now to the weaker spot: the 4 actual police mysteries. Without giving anything away, and without being an expert in police dramas (as it's not my favorite genre), I found their resolution to be very simplistic. At first each murder looks really baffling, with many suspects and no clues, and then at some point towards the end, one of the suspects breaks down as if by magic and tells everything, where they really didn't have to. A bit disingenious, and disappointing. All in all as I said I'd recommend the series for Havana fans, just for its color. To me it was a pleasure to watch and made me want to go back and visit.

What we have is good storytelling. And what we have is great character's struggling to find identity and placement in career as an aspiring alcoholic Detective and want to be Writer battles his demons and his past being stuck in crime + police work and criminal cases. We see what his life is from his past. Also, we see his friends. And in character study CONDE is a lovable drunk who remains just sober enough to amble around at 65 to 70 percent sober during the day....maintains just enough reserves to sort out by meandering through clues to resolve cases...this noir aspect is the sexy night shots taken of the city (and its odd lot assortment of rebellious souls who use rum and music and rehash of the past to show themselves, their livelihood's might have left long ago;) but a rebel spirit remains' that manages to survive in old Havana. The costume's are very real. The characters very real. This is Columbo--Havana--Style. Maybe the only time a cop hero role reserves compassion, since the women see the life that he never resurrected as the failed writer; and the passion they find in that wounded bear....the guy just needs to be loved....and the good man underneath will finally emerge, if given that love. The women are ready, and willing to try to love him back to the life, (if there are any explanations) the sex scenes feel as real as the characters needs so they film true, ( like euro cinema;) the way passion's are displayed is like the French--Italian ways in nondescript beds with the only heat and lighting is the sweat off their bodies... being ravaged by passion. If your a Writer like myself "this is the most complete way... to show this passion lives." Obviously, this is a first rate examination of this world, and it's well worth your time and keep in mind they were constrained by politics but they still managed to show the police divisions honestly and with great clarity. This is a station house that deserves to go on for the 5 year run with a lot of great characters to explore. You hope they find a way to give this cast at least a few years to keep it all going and what we have is a great example of what mucho magic can be found filming in Cuba. There is a wealth of good actors and writers and technicians. I pray that they allow this cast the next four more years to explore what Havana offers! This CONDE might just be one of the best cop character's we've had in many years!!

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!!!