In bygone days, the Nueva Isla hotel in Cuba was a place of grandeur, overflowing with life and guests. Now, it is a dilapidated ruin, with parts of the ceiling falling down and damp eroding the walls. Nevertheless, the building is still inhabited – by the aged Jorge and his faithful dog, as well as a few of his friends who find themselves homeless. Jorge’s best years were spent working as an official in a strictly governed but vital Cuba. Now, he spends his days poking around and digging – if you look carefully, there is memorabilia buried beneath the rubble. His friends have a more realistic outlook, and one by one leave the disintegrating building. The old man is followed in tender, calm footage of his day-to-day life – ‘maintaining’ the hotel, talking to the other residents, carrying on a romantic relationship with a woman in his improvised home; with kind words and a cautious dance to music recalling an era that has gone forever.
