In a Whisper
(A media voz)
Heidi Hassan, Patricia Pérez | Documentary
2019 | 80 minutes | Spain, France, Switzerland, Cuba
Filmmakers and best friends since childhood, both part of the Cuban diaspora, share how they found themselves and each other in a foreign land.
Synopsis
In this compelling documentary, childhood friends Patricia and Heidi, both raised during the 1970s in Cuba, reconnect after years of separation through an intimate exchange of video letters. Former students of the Cuban film academy, the women grew up under the communist ideals of Che Guevara, but as the promises of a utopian future disintegrated, they independently fled the increasing censorship and stagnation of their homeland.
In their forties, they rediscover their friendship through the medium that first united them. Through their candid audiovisual correspondence, the film explores their divergent experiences as migrants—Patricia’s struggle to survive by selling mojitos, Heidi’s attempts to integrate into Swiss society, and their shared sense of alienation and nostalgia for a Cuba that no longer exists.
The film is a chronicle of migration, displacement, and identity, offering a richly textured narrative that intertwines personal history with broader social and political themes.
Reviews
“Through archival footage, photographs, voice overs, and contemporary material, Hassan and Pérez Fernández share their autobiographical stories of deep friendship, immigration, and the centrality of filmmaking to capture their paths, drive their careers and eventually form the means for their reencounter.” – Michelle Leigh Farrell, Fairfield University
“A refreshing expression of womanhood; an ode to loss; a celebration of friendship, will, and vulnerability; a reclaiming of hope and passion; and a piercingly honest cinematic dialogue are all embodied in this magical, original, and risk-taking cinematic endeavor.” – IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam
“A touching story about friendship, affection, homesickness, and the characters’ lifelong love of filmmaking.” – Cineuropa
Citation
Main credits
Hassan, Heidi (film director)
Hassan, Heidi (screenwriter)
Pérez Fernández, Patricia (film director)
Pérez Fernández, Patricia (screenwriter)
Froiz, Daniel (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Heidi Hassan, Patricia Pérez Fernández; editing, Heidi Hassan, Patricia Pérez Fernández, Diana Toucedo; music, Olivier Militon & Patricia Cadaveira.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Caribbean Studies
Cinema Studies
Culture + Identity
Exile
Fascism + Repression
Migration Studies
Political Science
Sociology
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam - Best Feature-Length Documentary; Havana Film Festival - Best Feature-Length Documentary; Málaga Film Festival - Best Directing Award Documentary Competition; Athens International Film Festival - Special Jury Mention; Cali International Film Festival - Best Feature; Feroz Awards (Spanish Film Press) - Best Documentary; Filmar en América Latina Film Festival - Audience Award; CineCeará. Ibero-American Film Festival - Best Ibero-American Feature, Best Editing; Festival CinéMartinique - Grand Jury Prize
DIRECTOR: Heidi Hassan, Patricia Pérez
NATIONALITY: Spain, France, Switzerland, Cuba
YEAR: 2019
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Spanish; French; Other languages
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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