Uma Noite

I'm a Cuban who spent more than two decades living in the island thus I know what authenticity means when it comes to judging what is really Cuban and what is not. This is a very beautiful and quite accurate movie when it comes to the Cuba that I know. I wonder what kind of help Mulloy the director received from people in Cuba because the script couldn't be more Cuban (language expressions, characters, locations and so on). She has managed to give us a very fresh picture of the Cuban reality despite of course the necessary dosage of fiction that the movie carries. I think Mulloy achievement with this production is far from trivial. Other more resourceful and heavy weights in the movie industry like Benicio del Toro have not being able, in my personal opinion, to capture Cuba so powerfully (thinking of "7 days in havana"). Kudos to Mulloy and all the people involved with this production for this wonderful gift to the world, but especially to the Cubans living abroad who can't stop from missing the island every single day of their lives. Thank you and know that have given this review a 9 because I don't believe in perfection.

I was delighted to attend the world premier of Una Noche at the Berlin Film Festival. I loved it, and judging from the audience's reaction, it went down very well.

Mulloy's cinematography feels very modern and sleek. The film has a high-budget feel, but I imagine the real budget was surprisingly small, and working in Cuba will no doubt present endless challenges to the director's artistic vision. The technique of montaging-in seemingly unrelated shots into fairly simple scenes definitely builds up a complex and rich background portrayal of Cuba, deeply aesthetic in nature. I'd say this technique works pretty well.

The film's real strength, however, is in its acting. All three lead characters have a brilliantly simply and very human chemistry, which Mulloy captured expertly. This is definitely a film about human relationships, not politics, and so appeals to the heart instead of the head. The plot works on a very simple premise, but that seems fitting. This is a very Cuban film - intellectually unsophisticated, but rich in heart and down-to-earth observations. Earthy, if you will.

The bold decision to set sail in the middle of the film splits it into two parts: a very colourful and vibrant portrayal of life (both good and bad) on dusty Cuba, and a bluey-grey abstract half which is both open and claustrophobic. In both parts, it is the acting which really prevails. The pacing was always good - with the film remaining relatively constant, as opposed to a fast-slow-fast-slow etc affair.

I left the cinema feeling as though Mulloy had not set out to impart a message, but rather to observe and tell a story. The film is surprisingly apolitical in its stance, given what it portrays and the subject matter itself. I'd say this film is classic storytelling mixed with a rich insight into Cuba. Maybe I'll go there for myself one day to see what it's like!

Lucy Mulloy's "Una Noche" (One Night) takes you into the depths of the Cuban culture and exposes how far its main characters are willing to go to find a better life. Daniel Arrechaga, who plays Raul, is an energetic free spirit who's been drowning in the sedentary existence of his mundane job while at the same time trying to sell and trade whatever he can to support his HIV positive prostitute mother. But time is running out as Raul's gets restless and proceeds to unintentionally create a situation for himself that will force him to flee in order to avoid prosecution. His childhood friend Elio (Javier Núñez Florián) and sister Lila (Anailín de la Rúa de la Torre) are in similar desperate situations as they find themselves facing daily austerity in the face of an impending bleak future. Raul's unawareness of Elio's feelings towards him makes matters ever more interesting as both men choose to embark on an odyssey at sea on a made up raft. Their plans are altered by Lila, a sudden addition to their trip. With only a concept and very little to work with, this threesome sets out to sea hoping to survive the treacherous and at times life threatening waters in order find a new life in Miami. All three find themselves in a dicey situation as Lila's menstruation becomes a call to feast from hungry sharks and a catalyst to an unnerving and troubling ending.

The leads performances and fascinating look into surviving a very repressed Cuban society with stern consequences for those who choose to engage in minor infractions, is what makes this remarkable and sexually charged feature a journey you will never forget.

It is a country that lies only 90 miles outside of U.S. borders but decades of political discord have kept the story of Cuba from American eyes. 'Una Noche' the feature film debut of British director Lucy Mulloy, tells the story of three brave, and daring teens who venture to cross the treacherous ocean and prevail against a fate of poverty and injustice.

The cinematography is stirring and captivating. The performances are natural and engaging. Mulloy is a brilliant director who presents a seamless motion picture, tenderly and candidly.

The harsh and bleak trappings of scarcity as well as the joy of family and friends play as the background to a cleverly written love triangle. Adrenaline fuels the urgency of the characters' desperation.

As a viewer you feel as though your passport has been stamped. You've received an all expense paid trip to the pain and the paradise of the communist island nation.

It is a film like no other. You hold your breath and pray for the shore line to be merciful --- and edge closer.

I really enjoyed this film, it showed me how much some people want to come to the United States so bad. I understand why because they want a better life. But are they really getting a better life? They have to start over loose all there stuff and just hope that they will eventually get back up on their feet. My favorite thing about this movie was probably how it showed so many really nice scenes of the water and the only thing I disliked was a part of the plot. I did not like Elio's sister at all. She should not have even been a character. Her role has a slight effect on the movie but she seemed to ruin everything for Elio and Raul. You can tell that this film is not American by the way that the movie ends. It is a very harsh ending that most people do not seem to get unless if looked upon closely. In fact the ending of the film was the only part I did not full comprehend, if I was not for I my teacher I would have left the room thinking there was a decently happy ending.