Recommended for AS and equivalent level Spanish
This study day will address the themes of family, friendship, multilingual life, education, and include some contextual information about Cuba (history, and past and present socio-political issues).
An intro to the film in Spanish will provide relevant historical and contextual information as well as key vocab. The screening will be followed after lunch by a series of Spanish exercises based on the film, including character studies, film genre analysis and discussion of the main themes. The session will also include a short overview of contemporary Cuban film.
Led by Carmen Herrero, Head of Spanish at Manchester Metropolitan University
Sergio and Sergei (12A)
Dir Ernesto Daranas/Cuba/Spain 2017
93mins/Spanish, Russian with English Subtitles
Tomás Cao/Héctor Noas/Ron Perlman/Yuliet Cruz
1991: the USSR disintegrates, and Cuba enters a dire economic crisis. Sergio, a radio ham and professor of Marxism, struggles to provide for his family. Meanwhile Sergei, the last Soviet cosmonaut, finds himself nearly forgotten on the Mir space station. By chance, Sergio and Sergei make contact and strike up a friendship that will help both men to face the huge changes transforming their respective countries. Meanwhile, Sergio’s communications with the Russian cosmonaut and Peter, a radio ham from New York, are under covert surveillance. This joyful political satire is great fun to watch, packed with absurdist comedy and warm-hearted characters.
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