Yuli

2018 1h 55m ES

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 101

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Yuli is the nickname given to Carlos Acosta by his father, Pedro, who considers him the son of Ogun, an African god and a fighter. As a child Yuli avoids discipline and education, learning from the streets of an impoverished and abandoned Havana. His father, however, has other ideas, and knowing that his son has a natural talent for dance, sends him to the National Ballet School of Cuba. Despite his repeated escapes and initial poor behaviour, the boy is inevitably drawn to the world of dance, and begins to shape his legendary career from a young age, becoming the first black dancer to be cast in some of the most prestigious ballet roles, originally written for white dancers, in companies such as the Houston Ballet or the Royal Ballet in London.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Santiago Alfonso
Pedro
Carlos Acosta
Carlos Acosta (Actual)
Keyvin Martínez
Carlos Acosta (Joven)
Edison Manuel Olbera
Carlos Acosta (1983)
Laura de la Uz
Maestra Chery
Yerlín Pérez López
María
Carlos Enrique Almirante
Enrique
Andrea Doimeadios
Berta

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Icíar Bollaín
Writers: Paul Laverty
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Germany, Cuba, Spain, France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 8 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: Germany, Cuba, Spain, France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Icíar Bollaín, shot by Álex Catalán. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alberto Iglesias. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Santiago Alfonso and Carlos Acosta and Keyvin Martínez carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt7666250 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Icíar Bollaín directs. Álex Catalán behind the camera. Alberto Iglesias scores. Produced in Germany, Cuba, Spain, France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 8 years ago.
2International production across 5 countries: Germany, Cuba, Spain, France, United Kingdom.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Icíar Bollaín, shot by Álex Catalán. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Alberto Iglesias. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Santiago Alfonso and Carlos Acosta and Keyvin Martínez carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt7666250 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Álex Catalán
Original score: Alberto Iglesias
Runtime: 115 min · 1h 55m
Status: Released
Original language: ES
Certification (US): 6
IMDB: Yuli (2018)

Also by

Icíar Bollaín

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2019-05-29
★ 6/10
'Yuli' is a stylishly shot and well-cast film, but it's not without its faults. Wonderful performances can't save the poor pacing and a confusing narrative structure. The overly ambitious script tries to portray too vast a period, and suffers from a pressured pace and perplexing timelines. It’s not exactly Carlos Acosta's life through dance, but it does showcase his talent magnificently, whilst also acting as a tribute to those who helped him get to where he is today. An intriguing yet cursory glance at a great artist. - Charlie David Page Read Charlie's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-yuli-dancing-on-a-knifes-edge Head to https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/sff for more Sydney Film Festival reviews.

Production companies