Ernesto Daranas’ intimate social drama centers on Carmela, a devoted schoolteacher in Havana who fights for her pupils, including Chala, an eleven-year-old street-smart boy. With a blend of sharp humour and raw emotion, the film paints a vivid portrait of childhood, education and resilience amid Cuba’s urban realities. Shot with a naturalistic eye, the narrative balances tenderness and social critique. Awarded Best Film at Havana and New York festivals in 2014, it confirms Daranas’ humane, observational approach to storytelling.
