Melaza
a film by Carlos Lechuga
Cuba/France/Panama. Dramatic comedy, color, 80 min, 2012
About this film
Synopsis
In the Cuban village of Melaza, named after the once flourishing sugarcane fields, time stands still. Even when all kinds of things happen, nothing ever changes. The State pretends to take care of everything, but it shuts the rum factory and makes swimming lessons impossible. There’s no use complaining, think the inhabitants, that’s just how it is.
Melaza is the heartwarming love story of Aldo and Monica, a photogenic couple who live in a much too small cottage with their fat daughter and grumpy grandma. They try very hard to earn some extra money. Their attempts finally get the couple into deeper and deeper trouble. But together, the lovers manage to pull through it.
New talent Carlos Lechuga tells his critical story with humour and sparse dialogue, taking us on a journey to the beauties of rural Cuba. Far from the hotels and from Havana, but with a reality familiar to everyone who has ever been to Cuba – or faced a shortage of cash.
(IFF Rotterdam)
Plot keywords
Cuba | directorial debut | revolution | rural life | love story | family & kinship | ideology | identity
Crew & Cast
WRITER & DIRECTOR: Carlos Lechuga
PRODUCERS: Claudia Calviño / Inti Herrera
CO-PRODUCERS: Paul Saadoun/Cyrille Pérez/Gilles Pérez/Samuel Chauvin/Luis Pacheco
PRODUCTION SUPERVISORS: Alejandro Tovar/Bernardo Kenny/Alejandro Brugués
CINEMATOGRAPHERS: Ernesto Calzado/Luis Franco
SOUND DESIGN: Rubén Valdés
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Jesús Cruz
ART DIRECTOR:Alain Ortiz
COSTUME DESIGN: Alicia Arteaga
EDITOR: Luís Ernesto Doñas
LINE PRODUCERS: Hanna Imbert/Nadiezdha Adames
CASTING DIRECTORS: Libia Batista/Gloriana Reyes
HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST: Catalina Montero
LIGHT DESIGN: Iván Scull
CAST:
Yuliet Cruz. Armando Miguel Gomez. Lucho Gotti. Ana Gloria Buduen. Yaite Cruz. Augusto Posso. Jorge Caballero. Enithzabel Castrellon. Doris Gutierrez
With the special appearance of Felix Beaton as Policía Veterano
Waldo Franco as Juan and the child Carolina Marquez
Production Companies:
5ta Avenida/Promenades Films/13 Productions/Arte France Cinéma/Jaguar Films Production
Festivals & Awards
- World Premiere – Havana International Film Festival, December 2012. Opera Prima Official Competition
- International Premiere – Rotterdam International Film Festival 2013. Bright Future
- North American Premiere – Miami International Film Festival 2013.
- Biznaga de Plata Award. XVI Malaga Film Fest 2013.
- Jury Prize. First Time Directors. Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2013
- Best Narrative Feature. Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival 2013
- Best Film by an Emerging Filmaker. New England Festival of Ibero American Cinema (NEFIAC) 2013
- Newcomer of the Year. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2013
- Critics Award. 42nd International Film Festival of Belgrade. 2014
- World Showcase Award. Gasparilla International Film Festival. 2014
Sinopsis
Con el cierre del central azucarero, el pueblito de Melaza quedó devastado, sin vida. Aldo y Mónica son un joven matrimonio que no encuentra cómo sobrevivir. Apoyándose, tratan de salvar su mundo sin perder la fe.
Ficha técnica
GUIÓN Y DIRECCIÓN Carlos Lechuga
PRODUCCIÓN Claudia Calviño, Inti Herrera
COPRODUCTORES Paul Saadoun,Cyrille Pérez,Gilles Pérez,Samuel Chauvin,Luis Pacheco
PRODUCTORES DELEGADOS Alejandro Tovar,Bernardo Kenny,Alejandro Brugués
DIRECCIÓN DE FOTOGRAFÍAErnesto Calzado,Luis Franco
DISEÑO SONORO Rubén Valdés
MÚSICA ORIGINAL Jesús Cruz
DIRECCIÓN DE ARTE Alain Ortiz
DISEÑO DE VESTUARIO Alicia Arteaga
MONTAJE Luís Ernesto Doñas
DIRECCIÓN DE PRODUCCIÓN Hanna Imbert,Nadiezdha Adames
DIRECCIÓN DE CASTING Libia Batista,Gloriana Reyes
MAQUILLAJE Y PELUQUERÍA Catalina Montero
DISEÑO DE ILUMINACIÓN Iván Scull
ELENCO: Yuliet Cruz. Armando Miguel Gomez. Lucho Gotti. Ana Gloria Buduen. Yaite Cruz. Augusto Posso. Jorge Caballero. Enithzabel Castrellon. Doris Gutierrez
Con la colaboración especial de Felix Beaton con Policía Veterano
Waldo Franco como Juan y la niña Carolina Marquez
Festivales y premios
- Premiere Mundial– Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana 2012. Competencia de Opera Prima.
- Premiere International – Rotterdam International Film Festival 2013. Bright Future
- Premiere Norteamericana – Miami International Film Festival 2013.
- Premio Biznaga de Plata. XVI Festival de Cine Español de Málaga. 2013.
- Premio del Jurado. Opera Prima. Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2013
- Mejor Largometraje de Ficción. Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival 2013
- Mejor Largometraje de Nuevos Directores. New England Festival of Ibero American Cinema (NEFIAC) 2013
- Newcomer of the Year. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2013
- Premio de la Crítica. 42 Festival Internacional de Cine de Belgrado. 2014
- Premio World Showcase. Gasparilla International Film Festival. 2014
Sinopse
Com o fechamento da usina, o povoado de Melaza ficou devastado, sem vida. Aldo e Monica são um jovem casal que não acha a forma de sobreviver. Sempre se apoiando um ao outro, tentam salvar o seu mundo, sem perder a fé.
Ficha técnica
ROTEIRO E DIREÇÃO Carlos Lechuga
PRODUÇÃO Claudia Calviño, Inti Herrera
CO-PRODUTORES Paul Saadoun, Cyrille Perez, Gilles Perez, Samuel Chauvin, Luis Pacheco
PRODUTORES DELEGADOS Alejandro Tovar, Bernard Kenny, Alejandro Brugués
FOTOGRAFÍA Ernesto Calzado, Luis Franco
DESENHO DE SOM Ruben Valdés
MÚSICA ORIGINAL Jesús Cruz
DIREÇÃO DE ARTE Alain Ortiz
FIGURINO Alicia Arteaga
MONTAGEM Luis Ernesto Doñas
DIREÇÃO DE PRODUÇÃO Hanna Imbert, Nadiezdha Adames
DIREÇÃO DE CASTING Líbia Batista, Gloriana Reyes
MAQUIAGEM E CABELO Catalina Montero
ILUMINAÇÃO Ivan Scull
ELENCO: Yuliet Cruz. Armando Miguel Gomez. Lucho Gotti. Ana Gloria Buduen. Yaite Cruz. Augusto Posso. Jorge Caballero. Enithzabel Castrellon. Doris Gutierrez
Com a colaboração especial de Felix Beaton, Waldo Franco como João e a menina Carolina Marquez.
Festivais e prêmios
- Premiere Mundial– Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana 2012. Competitiva de Novos Diretores.
- Premiere International – Rotterdam International Film Festival 2013. Bright Future
- Premiere Norte-americana – Miami International Film Festival 2013.
- Prêmio Biznaga de Plata. XVI Festival de Cine Español de Málaga. 2013.
- Prêmio do Júri. Novos Directores. Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2013
- Melhor Longa-metragem de Ficção. Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival 2013
- Melhor Longa-metragem Novos Diretores. New England Festival of Ibero American Cinema (NEFIAC) 2013
- Newcomer of the Year. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2013
- Prêmio da Crítica. Festival Internacional de Cine de Belgrado. 2014
- Prêmio World Showcase. Gasparilla International Film Festival. 2014
Watch this film online ::: On Demand
Discover if you can rent or purchase this title for private viewing on Habanero PLAY, or visit the JustWatch streaming guide to see if it is already available in your country through any of your favorite digital platforms.
Non-theatrical ::: Educational bookings
If you are interested in using this film for your course or including it in your library resources, we can help you find the appropriate licensing for your needs. We offer tailor-made solutions for teachers, libraries, museums, film societies, non-profit organizations, and events. For more information, visit our educational website.
Join the conversation about this film
Follow this film’s journey on Facebook. Stay in the loop on the latest news and reviews. Network with fellow industry players on the film’s Cinando page. Your opinion matters, so don’t forget to rate and review it on IMDB.
