The actor and director Paco León, known for his character Luisma in the series Aida, expressed his frustration at not being able to premiere his most recent film in Cuba There and backthe return to the universe of the series that had such an impact on the island more than a decade ago, due to “political obstacles” that it has tried to overcome without success.
After a Cuban woman reminded him how much they love him on the island because of the series Aida, León acknowledged in the podcast “My life in movies” that the biggest fans of that production are on the island.
“I know that most people here in Spain don’t know it, but the biggest fans of Aida They are there in Cuba and Miami. And they have watched and followed the series, which has been a relief for many families,” he noted.
“I have insisted a lot and have moved to get the film taken there, to the other side of the pond. It will be able to be released, fortunately, in Puerto Rico, in Miami and in some cities in the United States, but for political reasons… and I have really tried, in many ways, but it is very complicated to get it there to the island,” he said.
However, he added: “I still hope to do itwhat happens is that… the magic of Cuba, that they do photosynthesis [dijo entre risas destacando la resiliencia cubana]and they see everything, you don’t know how, somehow it will arrive,” he said in reference to Creole “solutions” for the consumption of audiovisuals such as Weekly package.
“I’m sorry it’s not the way they deserve, but somehow it will come, and that is a gift for all Cuban fans,” León declared.
The film, which premiered on January 30 in Spain, arose from the idea of actress Carmen Machi and avoids the simple nostalgic reunion of the cast of the series.
Regarding the idea of the film, León told the producers that he did not see the point in making a long episode or an adaptation of a reunion, which is always “very disappointing,” because I say “they are like an ex’s sex, which is desirable, but not convenient.”
“Then it occurred to me that, if I find a way to make an interesting film today and beyond nostalgia, because I am zero nostalgic, and I take advantage of the fact that people are looking forward to that reunion, but to tell other things.”
The first thought, he said, was that the world had changed a lot and that it seemed that Aida “it couldn’t be done today”, because that “tone of jokes so “heavy” It does not connect with the consciousness we have today.
León, with recent projects such as No instructions and Miss Coalgo in There and back an opportunity to reflect on how moods have changed.
There and back debuted last Friday as the most viewed film of the weekend in Spain, with 219 thousand viewers.
According to Mediaset,cIt combines fiction and metacinema to narrate the filming of an episode of the original series, and has positioned itself as the best premiere of a Spanish film for those over 12 years of age in the last seven years and the strongest since June of last year.
Written by León together with Fer Pérez, lThe film begins its international expansion this week. It will be released on February 6 in cities such as New York, Miami, Orlando and Los Angeles (United States), and on February 5 in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, by Wiesner Distribution.
Paco became an endearing character among Cubans for his role as Luisma, which he played in more than 200 episodes over ten years. Aida.
Visiting Havana in 2014 to present his film carmina and amenPaco said to OnCuba that, although I knew that it was seen here Aida, “I never imagined it would be so popular.”
Likewise, he said that he went to dinner at a restaurant and the owner prevented him from paying the bill. “I didn’t know what to do, I was speechless, but we took several photos.”
Regarding a possible job on the island as an actor or director, he said he was “very happy to do either of the two things; I am waiting for a good project with Cuba.”
