Ruido from the heart of of Havana
























still from Ruido by Yoel Díaz Vásquez CU 3 min, DV, 2006


Tonight at SXSW Oscar winner Charlize Theron will be in attendance for the World Premiere of the documentary, EAST OF HAVANA, which she produced.
East of Havana is an unflinching close-up on the lives and friendship of three young rappers compelled to address their generation's future from the confines of a Cuban ghetto. Soandry, Magyori, and Mikki possess theundeniable talent and charisma of pop icons; but within Cuba's fearless and rebellious undergound movement, they are also the defacto leaders, creating music whose cross-pollination of early American rap and Latin influences brings self-expression to its sharpest, riskiest, and most triumphant point.

Jauretsi Saizabitoria and Emilia Menocal are both children of Cuban exiles. They grew up in Miami, and now both live in New York City.


For a more cuban point of view I recommend Ruido (which means noise) by Cuban native Yoel Díaz Vásquez, a short featuring eight rappers from suburban Havana.

You can watch this one alongside six other works by Cuban filmmakers in the program CANDELA! Cuban side-tracks on Directors Lounge television

Without Charlize, but you get eight rappers instead of three