Love and Suicide
Encyclopedia
Love and Suicide is a 2005
feature film romance by Luis Moro
and Lisa France, starring Moro and Kamar de los Reyes
. Moro wrote and filmed it over the course of 12 days in 2003, while attending the Havana International Film Festival for his previous film, Anne B. Real
. This was the first film to be shot by an American in Cuba
since 1959, when actor Errol Flynn
made his last picture, Cuban Rebel Girls
.
) lives in a vicious circle of life and death. To bury his grief over a lost love, he enters a world between dreams and reality; the path between love and suicide. Alberto (Luis Moro
) peacefully swims with life, knowing life will never outlast eternal time; dreams and reality are the same. Tomas find himself in a world of history preserved in the present, where time has stopped, and souls rise beyond material surfaces. This world exists in Cuba. Nina (Daisy McCrackin
) a modern day gypsy looking for her purpose in life, while Tomas keeps running from his. In a frantic moment, Tomas recalls the simplicity brought forth with Nina and the ultimate test of authenticity given by Alberto. In this moment, Tomas discovers the one thing between love and suicide.
, was accepted into the Havana Film Festival
. The intention was to shoot their film, while they were at the festival. Described by France as a “no budget” project, the film was shot by Lichtenstein, who carried a shoebox-sized DVX
HD
digital camera
, two wireless microphones and flashlights with a small saucer reflector for lighting. The 40 hours of unedited scenes shot in the streets, parks, and buildings of Old Havana were produced after cast and crew kept their commitments to the daily events of the film festival.
2005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
feature film romance by Luis Moro
Luis Moro
Luis Moro is a Cuban-born American actor, filmmaker, and writer. He first gained notability for co-writing, producing and acting in the film Anne B. Real, which was nominated for two Independent Spirit Award...
and Lisa France, starring Moro and Kamar de los Reyes
Kamar de los Reyes
Kamar de los Reyes is an American actor.Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Cuban percussionist Walfredo de los Reyes and a Puerto Rican mother, Matilde Pages, Kamar de los Reyes grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada...
. Moro wrote and filmed it over the course of 12 days in 2003, while attending the Havana International Film Festival for his previous film, Anne B. Real
Anne B. Real
Anne B. Real is a 2003 dramatic coming-of-age film by Lisa France and Luis Moro, starring David Zayaz, Carlos Leon, Janice Richardson, Jackie Quinones, Eric Smith, Geronimo Frias Jr, Ernie Hudson, Nesta Ward, and Sherri Saum.-Plot summary:...
. This was the first film to be shot by an American in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
since 1959, when actor Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
made his last picture, Cuban Rebel Girls
Cuban Rebel Girls
Cuban Rebel Girls is a 1959 film and the last film for Errol Flynn. It co-starred Beverly Aadland, then Flynn’s girlfriend, and was produced and directed by Barry Mahon....
.
Plot summary
Tomas (Kamar De Los ReyesKamar de los Reyes
Kamar de los Reyes is an American actor.Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Cuban percussionist Walfredo de los Reyes and a Puerto Rican mother, Matilde Pages, Kamar de los Reyes grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada...
) lives in a vicious circle of life and death. To bury his grief over a lost love, he enters a world between dreams and reality; the path between love and suicide. Alberto (Luis Moro
Luis Moro
Luis Moro is a Cuban-born American actor, filmmaker, and writer. He first gained notability for co-writing, producing and acting in the film Anne B. Real, which was nominated for two Independent Spirit Award...
) peacefully swims with life, knowing life will never outlast eternal time; dreams and reality are the same. Tomas find himself in a world of history preserved in the present, where time has stopped, and souls rise beyond material surfaces. This world exists in Cuba. Nina (Daisy McCrackin
Daisy McCrackin
Daisy McCrackin is an American actress and singer-songwriter.-Biography:McCrackin made her film debut in the straight-to-video movie A Crack in the Floor co-starring Mario Lopez...
) a modern day gypsy looking for her purpose in life, while Tomas keeps running from his. In a frantic moment, Tomas recalls the simplicity brought forth with Nina and the ultimate test of authenticity given by Alberto. In this moment, Tomas discovers the one thing between love and suicide.
Behind the scenes
Love & Suicide began as a screenplay that was inspired by Moro's desire to make a film in his native country of Cuba. The cast and crew paid their own way to Havana to shoot the film. Originally Moro and France's earlier film, Anne B. RealAnne B. Real
Anne B. Real is a 2003 dramatic coming-of-age film by Lisa France and Luis Moro, starring David Zayaz, Carlos Leon, Janice Richardson, Jackie Quinones, Eric Smith, Geronimo Frias Jr, Ernie Hudson, Nesta Ward, and Sherri Saum.-Plot summary:...
, was accepted into the Havana Film Festival
Havana Film Festival
The Havana Film Festival is a Cuban festival that focuses on the promotion of Spanish-language filmmakers. It is also known in Spanish as Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana, and in English as Festival of New Latinamerican Cinema of La Havana.The festival takes place...
. The intention was to shoot their film, while they were at the festival. Described by France as a “no budget” project, the film was shot by Lichtenstein, who carried a shoebox-sized DVX
DVX
DVX may refer to:* Dux, Latin for leader*Former IATA code for Denver International Airport* DESQview, a text mode multitasking program developed by Quarterdeck Office Systems* Santana DVX, a sparkling wine endorsed by Carlos Santana...
HD
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
, two wireless microphones and flashlights with a small saucer reflector for lighting. The 40 hours of unedited scenes shot in the streets, parks, and buildings of Old Havana were produced after cast and crew kept their commitments to the daily events of the film festival.
External links
- Official site
- Chang, Daniel; "Ignoring embargo, Americans film in Cuba". Accessed July 16, 2005
- Public Magazine interviews filmmakers Luis Moro and Pete Maez on the making of the biggest little picture Love & Suicide. Shot in Havana, Cuba by Cuban-American Filmmakers.
- HAVANA-Cuban-American filmmaker Luis Moro expressed his disdain for the long-standing U.S. trade and travel restrictions against Cuba in a very public way: he made a movie there. AP
- CBS4 News Miami Luis Moro interview US/Eastern Cuban Filmmaker Violates Embargo, Makes Film” Dave Malkoff
- Inside the making of Love & Suicide | Monty Joynes
- URBAN LATINO Sexy Kamar de los Reyes Invades Cuba for Love & Suicide. Urban Latino got it all. Jesus Trivino Alarcon
- Video Press Archive