La Ultima Cena / The Last Supper + Conversation with Mirta Ibarra

Tomás Gutiérrez Alea I 2h I 1976 Cuba I Spanish with English subtitles.

In 18th-century Cuba, a pious plantation owner wants to bring the light of Christianity into the lives of his slaves and can think of no better way to do this than to involve them in a staging of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. After picking twelve of them to serve as disciples, he arranges them around the dinner table for a rather odd exchange of ideas. He considers the night a success - until his slaves stage an uprising on Good Friday. Followed by a short break then a unique opportunity to spend time with actor Mirta Ibarra - a hugely entertaining speaker - as she shares stories of working and living with the film's director Tomás Gutiérrez Alea with Tatiana Heise. Includes a screening of Abrazos (Los Van Van latest video by Alejandro Valera) - a homage to the legendary film Strawberry and Chocolate, in which she also stars.

Read this fascinating article by HGFF Writer Brian Beadie about the film.