This energetic account of the life of the electrifying Cuban never shies away from the truth about his tough upbringing
This energetic, emotionally reflective movie follows the rise of the Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta from scrappy juvenile tearaway to ballet superstar. It’s directed by Icíar Bollaín from a script by Ken Loach regular Paul Laverty that adapts the dancer’s memoir. Acosta even makes an appearance, playing himself now, in Cuba to put on a show about his life – a clever move by Laverty to include some electrifying performances.
The film’s great find is 10-year-old newcomer Edlison Manuel Olbera Núñez, who struts around as young Carlos with irrepressible energy. In a reverse of the Billy Elliott story, it’s his dad Pedro (Santiago Alfonso), who drags Carlos kicking and screaming to Havana’s state ballet school to get him off the streets – and gives him the nickname Yuli,...
This energetic, emotionally reflective movie follows the rise of the Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta from scrappy juvenile tearaway to ballet superstar. It’s directed by Icíar Bollaín from a script by Ken Loach regular Paul Laverty that adapts the dancer’s memoir. Acosta even makes an appearance, playing himself now, in Cuba to put on a show about his life – a clever move by Laverty to include some electrifying performances.
The film’s great find is 10-year-old newcomer Edlison Manuel Olbera Núñez, who struts around as young Carlos with irrepressible energy. In a reverse of the Billy Elliott story, it’s his dad Pedro (Santiago Alfonso), who drags Carlos kicking and screaming to Havana’s state ballet school to get him off the streets – and gives him the nickname Yuli,...
- 4/11/2019
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
Icíar Bollaín on the set of Yuli: 'We say that the dance tells some parts of his life, but actually the dance tells the emotions of his life' Photo: Courtesy of San Sebastian Film Festival Carlos Acosta biopic Yuli - adapted from his biography by Scottish writer Paul Laverty and directed by Spaniard Icíar Bollaín had its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival this week. More traditional biographical storytelling is mixed with dance to bring the emotion of Acosta's memories to the fore. The film charts his reluctance to become a ballet dancer, despite being pushed by his father (Santiago Alfonso), with whom he had a difficult relationship, and his tutor Chery (Laura De la Uz), until his final embrace of the craft and rise to international fame. The film had its world premiere at San Sebastian Festival last September, where I caught up with Bollaín and Laverty to talk about it.
- 2/27/2019
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
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