CARLOS MACHADO QUINTELA | CUBA, VENEZUELA | 2012 | 66' | SPANISH SPOKEN | ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Minimalism, well thought-out camera work and a subtle narrative pace mark the Cuban film La piscina, Cuban director Carlos Machado Quintela’s feature film debut.
Havana, summer: four teenagers with physical disabilities, Danny, Rodrigo, Diana and Oscar, spent the holidays in a slightly run-down swimming pool which is abandoned by its former visitors. There they receive swimming instructions by a one-time promising athlete. During the languid, cloudy days they share little secrets, which occasionally give rise to minor conflicts. At a lunch in a hamburger joint Danny engages in an eating contest with Diana: who is the fastest to devour a hamburger? Shortly after Danny confides to taciturn Oscar that he harbours romantic feelings for Diana and that he believes these feelings to be mutual. Non-stop laughing Diana is flirting with Rodrigo however, be it very casually.
Except for the swimming instructor’s role (Raúl Capote) all parts are played by non-professional actors. With this film, which is reminiscent of the work of directors like Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Aki Kaurismäki, Qunintela paints an authentic picture of these youngsters’ lives while being well aware of and avoiding all Cuban clichés.
The director Carlos Machado Quintela will be present for a Q&A after the screenings.
RIALTO:
FRI 9 AUG 19.45
SA 10 AUG 21.45
DE BALIE: THU 15 AUG 19.30 