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.
- Directors
- Irene Gutiérrez, Javier Labrador
- Premiere
- World premiere
- Countries of production
- Cuba, Spain
- Year
- 2014
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2014
- Length
- 80'
- Medium
- DCP
- Language
- Spanish
- Producers
- José Alayón, Claudia Calviño
- Production Companies
- El Viaje Films, Producciones de la 5ta Avenida
- Sales
- El Viaje Films
- Screenplay
- Irene Gutiérrez, Javier Labrador
- Cinematography
- Javier Labrador
- Editor
- Lorenzo Salazar
- Sound Design
- Carlos García
- Website
- http://hotelnuevaisla2015.com