Habana

I very very rarely will write a short film review. Most of the time, I feel missteps in short films can be forgiven since they are often at the behest of budgetary constraints or 1st time filmmakers finding their voice. But with Habana looking like it was shot professionally on a budget of somewhere north of 100k(a ridiculous amount for a short), I'm going to throw that handicapping to the wind.

Yes, Habana is beautifully shot, and while the film sets itself up as an incredibly powerful social allegory in the first five minutes(as a matter of fact, the pre title-card opening is probably one of the best short film openings I've ever seen), it felt as though the filmmakers thought that was all the weight they needed to carry them through the next 15 minutes. It's a very skin-deep examination that provides temporary relevance, but one that very quickly gives way to the sense that the filmmakers were showing off. To put it simply, they fell in love with their super-contrasty b&w footage at the expense of making a film of any real depth or merit.

To wrap it up, the film jumps the shark in the last 3 minutes and adds a sci-fi element that feels cheap. I've never seen a more pointless, indulgent festival short in my life. This is a wasted opportunity and a frustrating movie-watching experience.

A short film interesting and, in some measure, seductive , for image. Beautiful cinematography, interesting social portrait, fair references to Cuban recent history and a young man as witness of a presumed foreign occupation ravages.

In essence- good premises for a dark poetic perspective about a war zone, survive, abuses, with touch of docu-drama.

Only problem - the final part who seems a mixture of horror, not real inspired one, and a sort of cheap Sci. Fi . So, the onlz good point remains the white-black image and smart shots. The bad, real bad thing - the illusion to got a reasonable story. But, sure, the story of young Lorenzo, reminding simmilar ones, just matters.

As a director, I saw Habana at the festival of Gerardmer where it won grand Prize. I was shocked to bump into Ctownfilm weak and absurd review so I decided to write a review for the 1st time.

Salier did a real "act of cinema" with Habana. It is rare enough to celebrate it. All movie lovers will totally love Habana.

Because Salier really is a talent. I had the chance to have a chat 5 minutes with him after the projection. It is crazy to think that Habana was shot for almost nothing by a team of 5 including director, DP. Apparently, it was a real fight with the local authority to make it happen.

Once again -those who have seen it will agree- Habana is a real "act of cinema". Imagining this super strong anticipation world in la Habana (one year before Obama and Castro shook hands), specially when you are a french filmmaker living in France, is an "act of cinema". Making the move to go to La Habana by yourself with your DP, and simply doing it, is an "act of cinema". Creating life everywhere in this incredible world, just through the casting and the acting of this amazing local kid, is an "act of cinema". And in finally, creating an unseen and stunning hyper realist visual execution, using technology that is accessible to all, is an "act of cinema".

As a viewer, after 20 minutes, like all the people around me in this theater, I just wanted to see more. And seeing the enthusiasm of the industry at the festival, I am sure, this will come soon. Watch Habana, watch out for Salier, real cinema on the way.