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VIVA stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Encouraged by his mentor, Mama (Luis Alberto García), Jesus finally gets his chance to take the stage. But when his estranged father Angel (Jorge Perugorría) abruptly reenters his life, his world is quickly turned upside down. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, VIVA becomes a love story as the men struggle to understand one another and reconcile as a family.
VIVA was a hit at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival, and is Ireland’s entry for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award this year.
 
Directed by Paddy Breathnach
Screenplay by Mark O’Halloran
Produced by Rebecca O’Flanagan, Robert Walpole
Executive Producer Benicio Del Toro
Producer Cathleen Dore, Nelson Navarro Navarro
Co-Producer Claire McCaughley, Sarah Gunn
Director of Photography Cathal Watters
Film Editor Stephen O’Connell
Production Designer Paki Smith
Costume Designer Sofia Marques
Hair & Make-up Designer Edwing Ramírez
Casting Director Libia Batista
Music by Stephen Rennicks
Jorge Perugorría
Luis Alberto García
Héctor Medina
Luis Manuel Álvarez
Renata (Maikel Machín Blanco)
Laura Alemán |
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“A REMARKABLE, STARTLINGLY BEAUTIFUL MOVIE. The cast is absolutely superb.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
“EXHILARATING. So much heart that you surrender to its charm.” –Stephen Holden, NY Times
“THIS ONE’S A GEM. Deeply affecting and beautifully acted.” – Alynda Wheat, People
“AN EMOTIONAL AND EFFECTIVE TORCH SONG MELODRAMA.” – Kenneth Turan, LA Times
“GRADE A-. Havana’s trapped-in-time beauty also plays a starring role.” – Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly
“A GENUINE CROWD-PLEASER THAT PACKS AN EMOTIONAL WALLOP. Director Breathnach achieves a triumph with the actors.” – Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter
“A CROWD PLEASER. Rocky in drag and sequins. Hilariously rude and surprisingly sweet.” – Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
“A GORGEOUS PORTRAIT OF CUBA.” – Monica Castillo, Village Voice
“VIVID AND FRESH. Remarkable performances. The other star of the film is Havana itself, its decrepit glory marvelously evoked.” – Casper Llewellyn Smith, The Guardian
“Delivers an emotional punch” – Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
“An emotion-filled drama that uncovers an authentic Cuba.” – Gary Kramer, Indiewire
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