La vida es silbar
Three different characters in a Havana, that always seems to be like today, must choose between clinging to their self-restricting beliefs, or getting rid of them to live more freely. Ballerina Mariana has recently promised God celibacy, if she gets the main role of "Giselle"; Social-worker Julia always faints after hearing a certain word, like other people do in the streets to different words; and percussionist Elpidio was abandoned by his mother named Cuba quite some time ago and has not yet gotten over the loss. Now he fells in love with an northern activist.
Festivals & awards
Festival des Lateinamerikanischen Kinos, Havanna 1998, Kuba:
Grand Coral - First Prize, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best New Actress, El Mégano Award, FIPRESCI Prize, OCIC Special Award, Radio Havana Award
Berlinale, Forum, C.I.C.A.E. Award
Goya: Best Spanish Language Foreign Film
Festival international de films de Fribourg (FIFF): Prix du public
Oslo Filmfestival, Films from the South Award
Rotterdam Filmfestival, KNF Award
Sundance Festival, Special Jury Prize
Viña del Mar, Grand Paoa
Credits
Pro Material
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Press voices
«La vida es silbar gehört zu den köstlichsten Kinoerlebnissen.»
Der Bund, Bern
«Ein seelenerwärmendes Filmmärchen aus Lateinamerika.»
Tages-Anzeiger, Zürich
«Ein entschiedenes Plädoyer für ein selbstbestimmtes Leben.»
Forum des Jungen Films, Berlin
"Man möchte pfeifen vor Vergnügen."
Tages-Anzeiger
"Its surrealist imagery, inspired by Magritte paintings, lends it a thread of visual zaniness... the throbbing music of Bola de Nieve and Benny More, which punctuates the film, makes its erotic pulse race even faster."
The New York Times