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Cuba’s Jorge Perugorría, best known for his lead role in the iconic Oscar-nominated Cuban classic “Strawberry and Chocolate” (“Fresa y Chocolate”), has been cast in the upcoming film, “Hotel Nacional” which participates
in the Iberseries & Platino Industria Co-Production and Financing Forum.
He plays opposite Brazilian star Thiago Lacerda, (“Seven Women”) who plays a grieving man who goes to Havana in a bid to reconnect with the roots of his recently deceased Cuban wife.
He meets Pilar, a Spanish doctor, who’s in the Cuban capital for a conference, hoping to escape the routine of her life in Madrid. At the bar of the emblematic Hotel Nacional, their paths cross – and they find an unlikely confidant in Rubén (Perugorría), a veteran Cuban bartender who introduces them to a forgotten cocktail.
As Bruno and Pilar grow closer, they wander the streets of Havana and the corridors of the hotel they share, drinking, talking, and confronting the ghosts that haunt them—through alcohol, guilt, and each other.
It will be helmed by writer, director and producer Diego Corsini (“Adiós Madrid”) in his eighth feature film outing as a director.
“Rubén is a 60-year-old Cuban who has lived his entire life in Havana and has spent more than 30 years as the bartender at the Hotel Nacional’s bar. With his family scattered since his children moved abroad, his work is the only thing that distracts him from his loneliness, ever since his wife passed away a few years ago,” Corsini explained.
He added: “At the bar, he has his ‘occasional friends’—the tourists staying at the hotel, with whom he often manages to have deep conversations, frequently becoming a confidant. The arrival of Bruno and Pilar will leave a lasting mark on him, not only because of the bond they will gradually develop, but also because of the Brazilian’s story, which ultimately contains a hidden element that will be revealed toward the end of the film.”
“He is a very sociable, warm, and calm man, with extensive knowledge of classic cocktails and traditional drinks, many of which have been forgotten in the face of newer trends. The cocktail ‘Between the Sheets’ will play a key role in the connection he forms with Bruno and Pilar,” he told Variety.
Asked about the difficulties in shooting in Havana given its economic crisis, he remained hopeful. “The situation is very complicated, and we hope that things will return to normal soon. Hopefully, this will happen before we begin filming. In any case, the Cuban people have an enormous and wonderful capacity for adaptation and creativity.” He has targeted early next year to begin shooting the drama.
“Alternative energy sources, including solar power, as well as electric vehicles, have already been making significant progress and growing considerably. So, one way or another, we are confident and reassured that we will be able to successfully carry out the portion of the shoot that takes place in Cuba.”
And whether shooting at the famous Hotel Nacional would pose a challenge, he was also positive. “Every iconic location comes with its own challenges, and the Hotel Nacional is no exception. That said, having our Cuban partners at i4films, with their extensive experience and track record, gives us confidence that we will be able to make it happen. This is further reinforced by the official support of ICAIC (the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry), as well as the fact that films have already been shot there in the past.”
He added: “The Hotel is essentially another character in the film—and it is the title of the film itself. For that reason, we are confident that the hotel’s management will not only allow us to shoot there, but will also enthusiastically support the production.”
The film is lead produced by Cinescalas, Spain along with TVZero, Brazil and i4films.
Co-founded by Corsini and Mariana Cangas, Cinescalas has produced close to 20 feature films, both fiction and documentary, in the past two decades. Among its credits, aside from “Adios Madrid,” are “Pasaje de Vida,” “Lo que nunca nos dijimos” co-produced with Mexico, “Candy Bar,” coproduced with Venezuela, “Solo el Amor,” on Netflix exclusively for 5 years, “El Encanto” and “Punto de no Retorno,” among others.
The sixth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria takes place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.
