Cuban actor Jorge Perugorría, renowned for his role in the Oscar-nominated film “Strawberry and Chocolate,” has been cast in the upcoming movie “Hotel Nacional.” The project was recently showcased at the Iberseries & Platino Industria Co-Production and Financing Forum.
Perugorría stars alongside Brazilian actor Thiago Lacerda, known for “Seven Women.” The narrative follows Lacerda’s character, a grieving man who travels to Havana to reconnect with the heritage of his late Cuban wife. There, he crosses paths with Pilar, a Spanish physician attending a conference in the Cuban capital and seeking an escape from her monotonous life in Madrid.
Their meeting takes place at the bar of the historic Hotel Nacional, where they find an unlikely ally in Rubén, portrayed by Perugorría. Rubén is a veteran bartender with over three decades of experience who introduces the pair to a forgotten cocktail.
As the characters grow closer, they explore Havana’s streets and the hotel’s corridors, confronting personal demons through alcohol and candid conversations. The film is directed by Diego Corsini, marking his eighth feature as a director. Corsini also wrote and produced the project.
Corsini described Rubén as a 60-year-old man whose family has been scattered by emigration, leaving him to rely on his work to cope with the loneliness following his wife’s death. The director noted that Rubén often serves as a confidant to tourists, and the arrival of the two leads will profoundly impact him, particularly due to a secret revealed in the Brazilian character’s backstory toward the film’s conclusion.
The director emphasized the significance of the cocktail “Between the Sheets” as a pivotal element in the bond forming between the characters. Regarding production challenges in Havana amid Cuba’s economic crisis, Corsini expressed hope that conditions would improve before filming begins early next year, praising the resilience and creativity of the Cuban people.
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