Habanastation

I bumped on this movie by mere chance while I was trying to learn how to use my AppleTV and YouTube on it. Well, I thought I would have seen just a few minutes of it, but ended up seeing it to the end. Even more: I downloaded it from YouTube and found the English subs, because (even if I am Italian) I could not understand well the Spanish dialogs. I was simply delighted. I visited Cuba in 1974 and had an idea about their cultural vivacity, but I think I had never seen a Cuban movie. So this one has been a double surprise. The direction is brilliant and the acting really very good, particularly the two kids. Happy to have discovered it. Ah, by no way it's a movie only for kids.

Although the two main characters in the film are 12-year old boys, I wouldn't say this is a movie aimed mainly at kids. I don't normally like movies with child actors, but I found this one charming. I've been to Cuba many times and think that this film does a good job of showing the current situation with social and economic class differences growing larger all the time. It was touching to see how the boy from the poor neighborhood was so self-reliant, hard-working, willing to share whatever he had, it felt real to me, I've known people like that in Cuba, thank God not everyone is motivated by self-interest. It didn't feel preachy at all, it developed naturally and had some interesting and amusing moments. I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in contemporary Cuba. Good acting, good direction, it leaves you with something to think about. To me, a welcome change from some of the dark, brooding, depressing films coming out of Cuba in recent years.

'Habanastation' is a neat flick out of Cuba.

I really enjoyed watching it. It's a simple premise and it is told in a pretty standard way, though everything is done competently and entertainingly. Ernesto Escalona and Andy Fornanis give good performances, their onscreen friendship is very convincing by the end.

The movie is shot well, though weirdly there are only like two scenes that seem to feature 'proper' cinematography (at least the ones that I remember) and those are involving buses - firstly at the march and then with Claudia Alvariño's character at the station. This isn't a criticism or anything close at all, I'm just saying that those scenes stood out to me more than the rest weirdly.

The ending is very sweet, though I'm not convinced Mario made the right decision giving Carlos what he gave him... I'm with Mayito's mum! At least give the kid the old PS2 fgs. Joking aside, this 2011 picture is very good.

Loved the film, story was good, scenes shot were well executed, and feel it showed Cuba in a very realistic manner. Story is touching and uplifting and would be a great view on HBO or a typical film Weinstein would buy and make sure that it got distributed and seen all over. Also comes to mind the thought that the US blockade of this small island is purely a venomous act that serves no purpose to either parties the US & Cuba, and is really shameful on the US. Ian Padron's directing was wonderful and to make a film like this with the budget that was allowed was amazing. My hat is off Ian Padron and I hope to see more films to come from this great director