Sergio and Sergei (Spanish: Sergio & Sergei) is a 2017 Cuban drama film directed by Ernesto Daranas. It was selected as the Cuban entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.[2] However, it was not on the final list of submitted films released by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in October 2018.[3][4]

Sergio and Sergei
Film poster
Directed byErnesto Daranas
Written byErnesto Daranas
Marta Daranas
Produced byJoel Ortega
Jaume Roures
Ramon Samada
Starring
Edited byJ.M. Quevedo González
Music byTom Linden
Micka Luna
Release dates
  • 8 September 2017 (2017-09-08) (TIFF)
  • 11 June 2018 (2018-06-11) (Cuba)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryCuba
LanguagesSpanish
Russian
English
Box office$23,268[1]

Plot

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Sergio is a professor of Marxist philosophy at Havana. He is also a radio ham. His Jewish-American contact Peter sends him a modern radio. Through it, Sergio contacts and befriends Sergei, a Soviet cosmonaut on the Mir space station. Meanwhile, a failed coup brings the end of the Soviet Union. Sergei has to wait until the new Russia can rescue him. Sergio endures the hardships of post-Soviet Cuba.

With the help of his balsero (raft building) building neighbor, Sergio distills moonshine and his mother makes cigars, so that his daughter Mariana has milk. Their informer neighbor Ramiro snitches to officer Lía about Sergio's illegalities. Sergei is concerned with the hardships suffered by his family in post-Soviet Russia and threatens to denounce them publicly. Sergio contacts Peter who pressures an FBI acquaintance.

Out of national pride, Russian president Boris Yeltsin orders Sergei's rescue. After the landing, Sergio and Sergei rejoice via radio. In a dreamlike-sequence, Ramiro breaks free of gravity and flies to Mir.

Cast

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  • Tomás Cao as Sergio, a Cuban professor and radio ham
  • Héctor Noas as Sergei Asimov, a Soviet cosmonaut and radio ham
  • Ron Perlman as Peter, an American radio ham

Reception

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Sergio and Sergei has grossed a worldwide total of $23,268.[1] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on seven reviews, with an average rating of 5.5/10.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sergio & Serguei (2018)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  2. ^ "La coproducción participada por España 'Sergio & Serguéi', elegida por Cuba para la carrera al Oscar". Audiovisual451. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  3. ^ "87 Countries In Competition for 2018 Foreign Language Film Oscar". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  4. ^ "La Academia rechaza a la cubana "Sergio & Sergei" para el Oscar extranjero, donde "Roma" es favorita". Noticine. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Sergio and Sergei". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
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