Viva

100 minutes

Spanish

Ireland
Cuba

VIVA stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Encouraged by his mentor, Mama (Luis Alberto García), Jesus finally gets his chance to take the stage. But when his estranged father Angel (Jorge Perugorría) abruptly reenters his life, his world is quickly turned upside down. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, VIVA becomes a love story as the men struggle to understand one another and reconcile as a family. VIVA was a hit at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival, and is Ireland’s entry for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award this year.

starring...

Héctor Medina

Jesus

Jorge Perugorría

Angel

Luis Alberto García

Mama

Renata Maikel Machin Blanco

Pamela

Luis Manuel Alvarez

Cindy

Paula Andrea Ali Rivera

Nita

Director

Paddy Breathnach

Writer

Mark O'Halloran

Cinematography

Cathal Watters

Music

Stephen Rennicks

Production Designer

Paki Smith

Film Editing

Stephen O'Connell

88% on the CINEMETER

91% - Mar 20, 2016

Extraordinary - intense and moving portrayal of poverty, generosity and love. This film will give those who are fortunate enough to see it compassion and courage.
San Francisco Member

Loved every bit of it! Great acting, especially by the character of "Mama."
San Francisco Member

What a wonderful crossover of respect for different cultures. Good choice not to subtitle the musical numbers. Once you step in to that world, you understand and feel the Spanish.
San Francisco Member

After the basic premise, the story arc was very predictable but the execution was emotionally wrenching nonetheless. Billy Elliot meets Victor/Victoria?
San Francisco Member

Absolutely authentic. Very powerful scenes, potent with meaning. Five stars!
San Francisco Member

A Havana without a portrait of Che on every building? Fantasy! Great score, though.
San Francisco Member

Really well done. Doesn't make me want to visit Havana.
San Francisco Member

MIL

85% - Mar 20, 2016

Many thanks for sharing this film. This winter season has been great so far. Origin of VIVA (Irish filmmaker in Cuba) reminds me of MUSTANG (French filmmaker in Turkey).
Milwaukee Member

Enjoyable. Classic story. Still trying to discern why an Irish filmmaker was so interested in this Cuban story.
Milwaukee Member

Dramatic and insightful but more dream-like than realistic.
Milwaukee Member

Wonderful story of redemption and love.
Milwaukee Member

Loved it but it's not for everyone. Loved the atmosphere, the characters, the music.
Milwaukee Member

I was tense all through the movie from all the emotions of the actors. Great!
Milwaukee Member

STL

100% - Mar 20, 2016

Excellent film! Theme presented the LGBT community in a positive light with strength & dignity. "We are who we are." Music resonated throughout the film, giving forth the strength the film portrayed. Wonderful!
St. Louis Member

Almost like a documentary of Cuba. Brilliant acting, especially Jesus. What eyes! His face! Beautiful photography although I feel that the panning shots of Havana were kind of repetitive. The same with the rain. Unforgettable. Love it.
St. Louis Member

Wow, wow, wow. Very moving & funny. Loved the juxtaposition of drag culture, father-son relationship, and Cuba. Lots of important issues touched on and/or delved into—amazingly well-done. The LGBT issues are handled very well, even though it's also transcendant—very much about overall humanity.

St. Louis Member

An amazing film of transformation and acceptance. Beautifully acted and filmed. Takes the audience into a world that might be unknown with sensitivity, grace and reverence. A dose of deep love and tolerance so needed right now.
St. Louis Member

Parallel stories about surviving in slum poverty with so limited options and the importance of love and unconditional, non-judgmental acceptance of each other in this milieu. Relationships between those in poverty are so important, though survival is first and foremost. Betrayals occur for survival but in the end, the poor "pull together" in hope of surviving. Great acting by Jesus. The development of his acceptance of self and empowerment was extremely well done. A remarkable excellent film.
St. Louis Member

Absolutely magnificent in all aspects. A beautiful, poignant, credible story. Brings viewer fully into Havana, a grimy place but "the most beautiful slum in the world." Quests of jesus and Angel parallel each other powerfully. Cuban society trapped between stereotyped of "machismo" and "macron." Direction, screenplay and acting are all beyond superb.
St. Louis Member

ATL

91% - Mar 13, 2016

Very poignant--we can make families of all configurations. Beautifully filmed. Loved it.
Atlanta Member

My favorite of the cinema club season [2 cards like this]. Powerful performances.
Atlanta Member

Phenomenal acting. Jesus was so trapped by his past and his present. His grace in caring for his father was amazing. In the end, he evolved like a butterfly in his ultimate final form.
Atlanta Member

Poignant portrait of survival and loneliness in the urban underbelly. it is striking that not one character had a traditional love relationship/partner or family. The brokenness of the place was reflected in the brokenness of the characters' lives.
Atlanta Member

I cried at the end of the movie--Jesus was excellent. I really got into the ending and felt he was female. Gave me a real understanding of men who feel like women.
Atlanta Member

94% - Mar 13, 2016

A perfect gem of a film about a son's reconciliation with his father -- and vice versa -- permitted against all odds by the son's enormous generosity. The film moves us to celebrate Jesus's immense talent -- an unexpected journey!
Greater New Haven Member

Great movie -- so sensual! Moving, great story, music, acting. Realistic view of Cuba. I had no problem not having subtitles for songs -- in fact, this added to the power of the story! Powerful movie!
Greater New Haven Member

The film introduced us -- most of the audience, I suspect -- to a whole new art form, and gave us a glimpse of a city we hadn't seen on screen since BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB. More importantly, it tracked the personal journey of two men on opposite sides of the sexual identity spectrum, yet bound by only blood initially and finally by love. Jesus eventually brings his father into his essential goodness.
Greater New Haven Member

A well-crafted, highly dramatic film of great beauty amongst the backrooms of poverty. Wonderful, very genuine transformations. At first I didn’t think I would like it – but I loved it!
Greater New Haven Member

The drag queen's ( Viva's) performance was great! I particularly like how the film addressed the problem of gender and especially performance of masculinity. Jesus comes to terms with his own identify and is able to spell it out. When he performed he felt more authentic.
Greater New Haven Member

This was less a movie about drag queens and more about a struggle for acceptance and, ultimately, survival. A tragic but uplifting experience all wrapped into one.
Greater New Haven Member

The themes were familiar – father representing the old, son representing the new; fighter vs. artist; desire to please/get approval of parent; be accepted for what you are – but even so, the film was fresh and very satisfying, both sweet and raw. Acting superb, especially Mama and Jesus. Setting really added to it.
Greater New Haven Member

Didn’t finally buy the father’s transformation, but Jesus’ vulnerability rang true. This movie was at its best steeping us in the texture and sounds of its Cuban setting. The scene with Jesus and Mama singing together said it all
Greater New Haven Member

Went to Cuba in 2013. The scenes were so accurate. Wonderful, heart-tugging story. Acting was superb, realistic. The film answers the question: what makes a family?
Greater New Haven Member

This was charming -- totally unrealistic but it was lovely to see a movie with a fairy tale ending. It started like a Shakespeare tragedy and ended like a Disney movie. Visually beautiful as well. I loved it!
Greater New Haven Member

Everyone should see this movie – especially those who think they shouldn’t.
Greater New Haven Member

Best one we’ve seen this season. What a fabulous character to root for! Loved it!
Greater New Haven Member

Extraordinary film! It was the best I’ve seen at this club! Bravo!
Greater New Haven Member

Viva La Cinema!
Greater New Haven Member

BOS

89% - Mar 13, 2016

spectacular, well done and sensitive film. Tough to take but excelent.
Boston Member

Fascinating--about life, identity, acceptance.
Boston Member

Amazing characterization, poignant, powerful message--never feals preachy.
Boston Member

The photography brilliant and the close ups of the actors very compelling.
Boston Member

The movie was amazing and had me sobbing because the story was so beautiful and inspiring and the acting was so magnificent.
Boston Member

87% - Mar 13, 2016

I loved the central message of forgiveness, acceptance and being true to yourself -- all things we need so much more of in the world today.
Washington, DC Member

The father/son bond is undeniable, torturous, powerful & essential.
Washington, DC Member

Excellent portrayal of poverty in Cuba..Loved the music and acting.
Washington, DC Member

I'm on my way to Havana!
Washington, DC Member

Interesting look at what "family' is all about.
Washington, DC Member

About the love story ... I thought the movie presented a beautiful love story between Jesus and MAMA! Truly unconditional love.
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

68% - Jan 24, 2016

Musical score is amazing and the best part of the film!
Boca Raton Member

Felt alot of the pain of the LGBT community!
Boca Raton Member

Excellent performances all around...very moving and touching. Told story beautifully.
Boca Raton Member

A story of emotions skillfully presented against the background of a gritty Cuba with realism and excellent photography!
Boca Raton Member

A very tough story beautifully told.
Boca Raton Member

Good struggle between father-and-son regarding self-awareness and acceptance told very well!
Boca Raton Member

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