The world of dance is full of life. That’s part of what makes Sin La Habana work as well as it does: it’s hard not to get swept up in the lyrical beauty of this transatlantic stage. But the world is not always 2/4 time either and this film, full of ups and downs, knows it; feels it with each and every frame.
Expressive and filling each moment with vivid details from the backdrops of Cuba and Montreal, Sin La Habana captivates with its handling of three characters who dare reach for the stars from down here on Earth. From beginning to end, Sin La Habana works as pure visual poetry as wealth and success are chased from out of the shadows by those willing to never stop the dance . . . even if it means giving into the folds of frustration.
While Sin La Habana is a beautifully directed film, the characters - especially those of Leo, a talented Afro-Cuban ballet dancer portrayed by real-life ballet dancer Yonah Acosta, and Sara (Evelyn Castroda O'Farril), an impoverished lawyer - are not always likable. These two dream beyond the border of Cuba and let their selfish motives entangle the hapless Nasim (Aki Yaghoubi), an Iranian-Canadian divorcée yearning for personal freedom, who falls for their charms. Trapped in their love triangle, she soon gives up innocence, invites Leo to Montreal, and - as the film flows through each character - unexpected consequences follow.
This is a fascinating film to watch as the direction is, at times, flawless in its execution, providing us with an insight that is as profound as it is tense. The cinematography is rippling with details and intention as lives and situations that are not the usual assortment of flavors and sights when it comes to the topics of dancing are explored, framed, and launched onto the screen. While there are some missed opportunities to explore the squalid beginnings a bit more, Sin La Habana is happiest when it lets the music and the culture do the exploring, as difficult themes like racism are explored.
And that is by design, thanks to the efforts of writer and director Kaveh Nabatian, who also wrote the original music. Much of the film is moved by passion and it keeps the rhythm with a pulse that is measured only by the beauty of cinematographer Juan Pablo Ramirez’s lens. Add to the mixture is the precise editing from Sophie Leblond and you have the makings for a film which is primed to take your breath away with its stunning storytelling.
Get lost in the heat of Cuba and the crispness of Canada as Sin La Habana lyrically toys with your emotions! Sin La Habana, from Breaking Glass Pictures, arrives on June 27th!
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 94 mins
Director: Kaveh Nabatian
Writer: Kaveh Nabatian
Cast: Yonah Acosta; Aki Yaghoubi; Evelyn Castroda O'Farrill
Genre: Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Get one of the foreign girls at your school. They're lining up for you.""
Distributor: Breaking Glass Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: June 27, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Between the sultry chaos of Cuba and the harshness of a Quebec winter, three complex characters try to fulfil their dreams of intimacy, happiness and upward mobility. A love triangle where the fate of immigrants is coloured by passion, money and power.
