Cuba / Spain,
1998, 106 min
Directed by:
Fernando PérezScreenplay:
Eduardo del LlanoComposer:
Edesio AlejandroPlots(1)
A surrealist story about three Cubans torn by inner conflicts, Life is to Whistle doubles as a metaphor for the uncertainty surrounding Cuban society in the twilight of Castro's reign. The film tells the stories of three end-of-the millennium Cubans, whose lives intersect on the Day of Santa Barbara. Mariana, a nymphomaniac ballerina, ponders breaking chastity vows she made to land the coveted role of Giselle; Julia has fainting spells each time she hears the word "sex," and Elpidio, a musician, seduces a gringa tourist while Bebe, the narrator, takes the viewers for a taxi ride along the streets of Havana. (Ljubljana International Film Festival)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Goya Awards
- 2000 - Fernando Pérez (Best Spanish Language Foreign Film)
Sundance Film Festival
- 1999 - Fernando Pérez (Latin America Cinema Special Jury Award)
- 1998 - Fernando Pérez (NHK Filmmaker Award)
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF)
- 1999 - Fernando Pérez (Grand Prix – Crystal Globe)