''Things I Left in Havana'' ( es, Cosas que dejé en La Habana, links=no) is a 1997 Spanish film directed by

Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón (Torrelavega, Cantabria 2 January 1940) is a Spanish screenwriter and film director. His 1973 film ''Habla, mudita'' was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival. In 1977, he won the Silver Bear for Bes ...

and co-written by Senel Paz. It stars Violeta Rodríguez,

Jorge Perugorría Jorge Perugorría Rodríguez (aka "Pichi," born 13 August 1965) is a Cuban actor, film director and painter. He is well known for his part as Diego in ''Strawberry and Chocolate'' (original title in Spanish ''Fresa y chocolate'' (co-directed by ...

and

Kiti Mánver María Isabel Ana Mantecón Vernalte (born 11 May 1953), better known as Kiti Mánver, is a Spanish actress. She has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows since 1970. Biography María Isabel Ana Mantecón Vernalte was born i ...

Plot

Three sisters from

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

(Nena, Ludmila and Rosa) move to

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

, temporarily staying with their aunt María, who exploits them for labour, also intending for them to assimilate to Spanish culture. Nena, an actress wannabe, falls romantically for Igor, a Cuban scoundrel with a heart of gold.

Cast

Production

The screenplay was penned by

and Senel Paz. Produced by

Gerardo Herrero Gerardo Herrero Pérez-Gamir (born 28 January 1953) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. He is a prolific promoter of international coproductions and collaborations between Spain and Hispanic American countries. From 1993 to ...

, the film is a Sogetel and Tornasol Films production, with the participation of

Canal+ Canal+ (Canal Plus, , meaning 'Channel Plus'; sometimes abbreviated C+ or Canal) is a French premium television channel launched in 1984. It is 100% owned by the Groupe Canal+, which in turn is owned by Vivendi. The channel broadcasts several ki ...

and the collaboration of Sogepac. The film had a budget slightly over 200 million ₧.

Release

''Things I Left in Havana'' screened at the 42nd

Valladolid International Film Festival The Valladolid International Film Festival, popularly known as Seminci (short for ; ), is a film festival held annually in Valladolid, Spain. First held in 1956 as ('Valladolid Religious Film Week'), the Seminci is one of the longest-standing fi ...

in October 1997. The film was theatrically released in Spain on 16 January 1998.

Accolades

, - , align = "center" , 1997 , , 42nd

, , colspan = "2" , Silver Spike , , , , , - , align = "center" rowspan = "2" , 1998 , , 13th Goya Awards , , Best New Actress , , Violeta Rodríguez , , , , , - , 45th

Ondas Awards The Premios Ondas (Spanish: literally "wave awards", also known in English as the Ondas Awards or simply The Ondas) have been given since 1954 by Radio Barcelona, a subsidiary of Cadena SER, in recognition of professionals in the fields of radio ...

, , Best Film Director , , Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón , , , ,

References