Filmed from 1995 to 1997 in Havana, New York, Los Angeles, Morelia and Mexico City, it tells the story of Yuliet, a Cuban teenager, and Fabiola Quiroz, a Mexican model, who, with humor and frankness, surrounded by quirky supporting characters, show us that the absence of their parents, deprivation and adversity made them stronger.
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Reviews
I was introduced to this film by a friend of mine. What drew me tothe story, more than anything, was the theme of fatherless youngwomen. I, too, was a fatherless young woman up until lastNovember when I finally met my biological father--a physicsprofessor from Venezuela. Fabiola, the beautiful Mexican model, and Yuliet, the beautiful,sassy and broken sixteen year old prostitute from Cuba areamazing to watch. Both young women grew up without knowingtheir biological fathers and carry emotional baggage and painlocked up in their hearts. Although, the subject matter of childprostitution, despair and intense identity crisis seem heavy, thefilm is funny and uplifting. It also is emotionally rich and may verywell make you cry. I found myself wishing the best for both youngwomen. Their beauty and strength of character really struck achord in my heart. Thank you to the director and the young womenwho brought so much to this story.
The movie was ok for the first hour or so. It was nice to see the daily life of poor Cuban community and the beauty of the country. But it was way too long. Personally I found Yuliete quite annoying and didn't like her childish way of story telling.It seems that most people felt the same way...as 2/3 people left within first hour.
This is a wonderful, highly original documentary, or is it? I'm not sure whats real or if some parts have been staged, but they depict the lives, dreams and problems of a beautiful Mexican model who is in Cuba shooting a music video and a young local girl who is cast as her sister. The film then shifts focus on the girl and what a girl she is! She's about 13 and can be very innocent and girlish in some scenes, and intelligent beyond her years in other as she speaks her mind in the wonderful Cuban-style gift of gab. Through her eyes we see the poverty that most Cubans endure and learn of the exploitation of children by idiotic foreigners who treat Cuban vacations like a sexual free for all. The girl is one of most powerful protaganist I've seen in a film and one can only hope that she achieves her dreams like those people in films like Hoop Dreams.What's interesting about the film is the almost surreal tone to the film, using visual gags and free association of images which I found original and funny. Also, the filmmakers made a choice which is one that very few documentary filmmakers make, and that is that they decided to tear down one of the walls, and actually participate in this girls life and try to help her. This if very different from the other films which at times feels like we're being voyeurs on other peoples misery.
This is one of those films that makes you feel that the battle of creativity is not lost, and that Hollywood will not reign if there are filmmakers as Carlos Marcovich. This film is unique, is original, is fresh, is sincere.