7 jours à la Havane

I'm going to come over a little bias because I was invited to the premiere in Havana - which was subject to the vagaries of technology in Cuba and it meant that I didn't see the final chapter.

I wasn't fussed about seeing the film before it happened, I'd rather have spent the time drinking rum around the corner from the cinema.

The reality was that by the time we'd all seen the film we were all drawn in, hooked, and entirely captured by the simple brilliance of the performance.

Life in Cuba is like nowhere else in the world. The clashing combination of political and ideological cultures is unique. The sacrifice, the clash of ancient and modern perspective, the desire of modern accompaniments. It's all explored. And only the hardest of folks would drive things that way.

Seven directors shoots his own style films within a shared setting (Havana), by seven parts of just one flowing story in which characters are placed more than one part. Hence, this movie can't be degraded to be a collage; contrary, it is like a single feature-length in which visual narration style is changed according to story's flowing.

Suleiman and Tabio's parts are my favourites.

Absolutely should be seen.

'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 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.

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.