Fed up with living in poverty while catering to a privileged tourist class, Cuban teens Raul and Elio are tantalized by the idea of fleeing the confines of their broken-down country for a new life in Miami. When Raul is accused of assaulting a foreigner, he has no choice but to escape, but Elio must decide whether his desire for freedom and helping Raul are worth abandoning his beloved twin sister, Lila. Brimming with the nervous energy of Havana’s restless youth and the evocative cinematography of the sun-bleached capital, Una Noche follows one sweltering day, full of hope and fraught with tension, that burns to a shocking climax.
Director Lucy Mulloy spent years living in Havana to research Una Noche. Untrained actors play the leads, and their aching vulnerability and honest performances leave a lasting impression. A universal coming-of-age story in an unlikely place, Una Noche marks the directing debut of an important, passionate new voice.
Genna Terranova, Tribeca Film Festival
