Among the films that this year will be presented at the 43rd edition of the International Festival of the New Latin American Cinema of Havana the documentary is found Bewhich approaches the successful career of the Cuban first dancer and choreographer Julio Arozarena.
Under the direction of the director Miguel Ángel García Velasco, the audiovisual is part of the series “The black pearls of Cuban dance” of the AfroKuba ethnovisual project, founded and directed by Professor García Velasco. This project investigates the heritage of the musical, dance and religious ceremonial culture of Cubans of African descent in these disciplines.
The Havana cinema 23 and 12 will host the exhibition of Be on December 7 at 3.00 pm. During 19 minutes, the material allows to know about one of the most remembered dance figures on the Island, especially for those who had the opportunity to see him dance in the ranks of the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC).
“Many times, throughout my life, I have set myself goals, objectives to achieve. And the common factor in everything is precisely that: not to stop being who I am. And who am I? I am all of that… Many things at once; but, in reality, my main objective in life has been to be, without adjectives. Not being a dancer, not being Cuban, not being black, not being a man. No. Just be. And that is what I have tried to achieve: to be as complete as possible”, declared Julio Arozarena. in interview granted to the ethnomusicologist Miguel Ángel García.
Arozarena was born in Havana on October 23, 1965 and joined the famous company directed by Alicia Alonso, where he remained for seven years and was a disciple of the maestros Andrés Williams and Amparo Brito. He has danced with internationally renowned companies and currently directs the Arozarena Arts Association based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Latin America in perspective
Along with the film about Arozarena, the selection of documentaries and short films from the Havana festival includes titles such as That’s life, Octavioby Cuban actor and director Patricio Wood; Mufflerof the Dominican Fernando Henríquez; Devotionby Argentine Valentin Sabouret; the dead sonby Cuban Maysel Bello; Y A wild patience has brought me hereby the Brazilian Érica Sarmet.
From December 1 to 11, the film event in Havana, one of the most popular in the region, will seek to return to its usual dynamics after the pandemic affected the latest editions. Only the 23 and 12, Chaplin, Yara and Acapulco cinemas will host the screenings, while the usual Riviera and La Rampa theaters will not open their doors this time.
However, and despite the economic difficulties that the Island is going through, the festival organizers call for enjoying films in the traditional way and doing it in appropriate theaters, hence their slogan: “big cinema”.
