Country: Cuba 2009
Plots keywords: Drama | Cuban Revolution | 19 Century
Language: Español – English subtitles
Director and Writer: Fernado Pérez Vadés
Production Co: Co-producción Cuba-España; Televisión Española (TVE) / Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC) / Lusa Films S.L. / Wanda Films
Runtime: 120 min.
Cast: Daniel Romero Bildaín, Rolando Brito, Broselianda Hernández, Enrique Lázaro Piedra, Manuel Porto, Julio César Ramírez, Damián Rodríguez, Francisco López Ruiz, Eugenio Torroella
Awards: 2010 Premios Ariel: Mejor película iberoamericana (ex aequo)
José Martí: El Ojo del Canario
José Martí, entre los 9 y los 17: los únicos años en que conoció de cerca a su patria y en los que aprendió a amarla y entenderla, para hacer la magna obra que le tomó el resto de su vida. No es una biografía: es un itinerario espiritual inspirado en la infancia y adolescencia del héroe nacional cubano José Martí.
”José Martí fue un hombre de una sensibilidad muy especial que marcó la historia de Cuba, pero también fue un ser humano común, corriente, como cualquiera de nosotros. Creo que eso es lo que hace grande a los grandes hombres. Mi película se sumerge en la complejidad cotidiana que formó el carácter de Martí durante su infancia y adolescencia. La mirada será más personal que histórica, más subjetiva que biográfica. Cada cubano tiene su Martí. En este filme, yo trataré de expresar el mío.” -Fernando Pérez, Director
José Martí: The Eye of The Canary
Little is known of the childhood and youth of the great 19th-century Cuban liberator, José Martí. This robust biopic imagines his early years. The son of a magistrate, the precocious Martí — “Pepe” to family and friends — takes an early interest in justice. Gradually he enters the nascent independence movement and, not yet 18, is arrested for sedition. Respectful, yet not worshipful, this is a portrait of the revolutionary as a young man, and a stirring historical drama besides.
José Martí: The Eye of the Canary was awarded the Ariel for Best Latin American Film at the Mexican Academy Awards in 2011.
Fernando Pérez has published articles on cinema and taught courses on film appreciation and cinema history at various Cuban universities. His filmography contains over a dozen titles including Havana Suite (2003), Life is to Whistle (1998) and Madagascar (1995). He was chosen as the most outstanding Cuban film director of the 1990s by the Cuban Film Press Association.
Country: Spain 2016
Plots keywords: War| 19th Century | History | Colonialism
Language: Español – English subtitles
Director: Salvador Calvo
Writer: Enrique Cerezo P.C. / 13 TV / CIPI Cinematografica S.A / ICAA
Runtime: 129 min.
Cast: Luis Tosar, Álvaro Cervantes, Javier Gutiérrez, Karra Elejalde, Carlos Hipólito, Eduard Fernández, Patrick Criado, Miguel Herrán, Ricardo Gómez, Emilio Palacios, Alexandra Masangkay, Maykol Hernández, Pedro Casablanc, Ciro Miró
Awards: 2016: Premios Goya: Mejor diseño de vestuario. 9 nominaciones
1989. Los Últimos de Filipinas
A finales del siglo XIX, en la colonia española de Filipinas, un destacamento español fue sitiado en el pueblo de Baler, en la isla filipina de Luzón, por insurrectos filipinos revolucionarios, durante 337 días. En diciembre de 1898, con la firma del Tratado de París entre España y Estados Unidos, se ponía fin formalmente a la guerra entre ambos países y España cedía la soberanía sobre Filipinas a Estados Unidos. Debido a esto, los sitiados en Baler son conocidos como “los últimos de Filipinas”.
1898. Our Last Men in the Philippines
Death, violence, blood, desperation, fear and starvation. This is the plight of the last fifty men of the Spanish Empire as they defend the last of its colonies to the death: the Philippines. These Spaniards, drifters rather than soldiers, barricade themselves inside the church in the small village of Baler against the incessant offensive by the country’s native Tagalogs. Over 300 days go by, and day in and day out, they suffer all kinds of illness and miseries. Between the arrows they receive and their own return fire, these Spaniards, far from home, take on the adventure of their lives in an inhospitable jungle crawling with crocodiles and other dangers. They battle onslaught after onslaught from the natives; they sneak out at night to steal food and they smoke opium to drown their sorrows. And above all, they entrust themselves to a God and Country who, to their disbelief, abandoned them long ago….
TEATRX is bringing back La Vida Es Cortos / Life Is Shorts Festival for the second year! The festival will once again bring Latinx stories to the stage and screen in new and exciting ways. This year’s lineup includes a 14-minute musical, 21 Chump Street: The Musical, by Hamilton star Lin Manuel Miranda, and a short film by native Houstonian Vannessa Vasquez of Hulu’s East Los High. Along with 21 Chump Street: The Musical, TEATRX will produce two plays chosen after a nationwide call for short plays. On behalf of TEATRX, Laura Moreno will direct, The Party Favor, by Julián Mesri. The second play, A Volunteer by Marian Licha will be directed and acted by members of Teatro Indigo. This year’s festival will also feature the Spanish language play, El Espejo by Emilio Carballido directed by RS Producciones, and a dance theatre piece written and choreographed by Adam Castaneda of Pilot Dance Project.
Because of the high volume of fantastic film submissions, TEATRX will show 13 short films ranging from two to fifteen minutes. Films will be split between four performances Thursday – Saturday. Each night the audience will vote on their favorite film. The top films will be featured at the final performance on Sunday, November 24.
La Vida Es Cortos/Life Is Shorts Festival is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
A spirited holiday celebration
A joyful concert experience featuring music from the cathedrals of Mexico and beyond. Fusing Old World Baroque traditions with New World rhythms and dance, these festive works showcase the broad range of cultures and music in the 17th-century Americas. With vocals, percussion and the energy of Mercury, this will truly be a holiday celebration to remember.
This concert is made possible in part by the Houston Endowment and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.