Habana Muda 2011
A deaf couple with two young children struggle to make ends meet in the capital of Cuba. Chino, the husband, is also in an open relationship with his Mexican lover Jose, who promises financial support from abroad. But is it love? Though the subjects of Habana Muda are richly sketched, it’s hard to pin down their motivations, and this ambiguity helps carry its surprising narrative. But rather than simply coasting on a bizarre plot, the engrossing Habana Muda also offers a profoundly cinematic experience, one wherein facial expressions and hand movements are imbued with meaning. Add to that a carefully constructed soundscape, tight editing and sharp cinematography, and it’s clear that Habana Muda heralds the arrival of a remarkable new filmmaking voice.
