Melaza
Spanish with English subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Carlos Lechuga Producers: Claudia Calviño, Inti Herrera Cinematographers: Ernesto Calzado, Luis Franco Editor: Luis Ernesto Doñas Sound Design: Rubén Valdés Music: Jesús Cruz Principal Cast: Yuliet Cruz, Armando Miguel Gómez, Lucho Gotti, Ana Gloria Buduén, Yaite Cruz
In the Cuban village of Melaza, the least of a couple’s worries is to find a private place to make love. The once prosperous sugar mill has been shut down, and the local economy has come to a standstill. Monica, the only worker left at the mill, and Aldo, a swimming teacher without a functioning pool, live in a one-room house with Monica’s daughter and her grandmother. They urgently need to make some extra money, but the safest options open to them are rapidly disappearing. Melaza is a passionate testament to the perseverance of a young couple, as they struggle to find a way to survive, no matter what. Cuban film editor of Melaza, Luis Doñas, will be in attendance to have a dialogue with the audience.
Lechuga brings to the screen a rare glimpse of rural Cuba, and the stunning scenery plays a role in helping to create the film’s reflective sensitivity. Andres Castillo, Festival Genius
La azúcar ha sido la esencia de la economía cubana, los ingenios azucareros han sido el corazón de los pueblos. Melaza, es uno de esos pueblos, hoy abandonado y sin más cañas de azúcar. Mónica, una joven recién casada, es la única persona que trabaja aún ahí. Su esposo, Aldo, es un maestro de natación de una alberca que ha estado vacía por años. Ambos viven en una pequeña casa con la hija de Mónica y la madre. Todo lo que tienen es fe en un futuro mejor, tratando de hacer cosas inimaginables para sobrevivir. El editor de la cinta, Luis Doñas, estará en la sala para tener un diálogo con el público.
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Carlos Lechuga was born in Havana in 1983. He specialized in scriptwriting at EICTV and his short film, The Swimmers (2010), screened at numerous festivals, including VLAFF 8. Melaza was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Best First Film at Miami and won the Best Latin American Film award at the Málaga Film Festival.