The Companion
(El acompañante)
Pavel Giroud | Drama, Fiction, Thriller
2016 | 104 minutes | Cuba
Set in 1988 Cuba as the government dispatched HIV patients to AIDS centers under military rule, The Companion narrates the unlikely friendship between a boxing champion and a conflictive patient.
Synopsis
Set in 1988 Cuba as the government dispatched HIV patients to AIDS centers under military rule, The Companion narrates the unlikely friendship between a boxing champion and a conflictive patient.
After failing a doping test, Horacio Romero has no other choice but to serve a sentence. His fate is in Los Cocos, a sanatorium under military rule where HIV patients are compulsorily confined, with the exception of a weekly pass to visit their families under the supervision of personal wardens called “companions.”
As a “companion,” Horacio is supposed to keep an eye on Daniel -the most conflictive patient in the ward- and get him to comply to the regulations. Their interests immediately collide as Daniel is set to spend his last days in freedom and is ready to do anything to make this happen.
Horacio, on the other hand, dreams about boxing again to get his champion’s status back. For that to happen, however, he must first win this battle out of the ring...
Reviews
"One of the darkest episodes of the Cuban Revolution." — El Caiman Cuadernos de Cine
"The Companion proves once again that the arts can be a great cultural ally in the prevention strategy of HIV/AIDS and can help us to improve our culturally-oriented conversation with communities highly impacted by the virus in New York City." — Transdiaspora Network, NY
"A universal tale of struggles against adversities." — The Hollywood Reporter
"Giroud's lush cinematography and refreshingly spirited look at one of the darker periods in recent history marks The Companion as an important film to watch...A masterclass in balanced filmmaking." — Flickering Myth
"Giroud is mining new ground." — Remezcla
"A reality blow." — Diario Sur
"A subject hardly explored by Cuban art." — Diario Las Americas
Citation
Main credits
Giroud, Pavel (film director)
Giroud, Pavel (screenwriter)
Miguel Gómez, Armando (actor)
Romero, Yotuel (actor)
Rodríguez, Lia (film producer)
López, Antonio Aníbal (film producer)
Tenenbaum, Edgard (film producer)
Edelman, Pierre (screenwriter)
Brugués, Alejandro (screenwriter)
Other credits
Cinematography, Ernesto Calzado Yanes; editor, Jacques Comets; music, Ulises Hernández, Sergio Valdes.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Afro-Latin Studies
Caribbean Studies
Family
Fascism + Repression
Gender + Sexuality Studies
Health + Aging
History
Human Rights
Latin American Studies
Migration Studies
Religion + Spirituality
Science + Technology
Sociology
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Academy Awards® - Cuba’s submission for Best Foreign Film
Miami International Film Festival - Audience Award
Málaga International Film Festival - Audience Award
Transdiaspora Network NY - Changemaker Award to Pavel Giroud
Cinélatino Rencontres de Toulouse - Audience Award, Centre communal d’action sociale Award
Goya Awards® - Cuba’s submission for Best Foreign Film
DIRECTOR: Pavel Giroud
NATIONALITY: Cuba
YEAR: 2016
GENRE: Drama, Fiction, Thriller
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
Panama Canal Stories
Historias del Canal
On the Roof
El techo
Vicenta B
Horizons
Horizontes
Lessons for Luca
Present Tense, Ep. 10 - Full, Universal, and Free
Integral, universal e gratuita
The Padilla Affair
El Caso Padilla
It's All Good
Está todo bien
Rural Health
Salud rural
Everybody Leaves
Todos se van
The Foam of Days
La espuma de los días
On the Starting Line
La arrancada
Transit Havana
Calls from Moscow
Llamadas desde Moscú
Without Prescription
Receta no incluida
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 266
SEE COLLECTION >Social Justice
A thought-provoking collection of films centered on social justice, each narrative a powerful exploration of human rights, equality, and the pursuit of a more just society.
Number of titles: 85
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >LGBTQ+
An insightful view into the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming community in Latin America and Spain.
Number of titles: 55
SEE COLLECTION >Afro-Latin Narratives
Unveiling Afro-Latin America: their culture, challenges, and the profound contributions of their communities.
Number of titles: 67
SEE COLLECTION >Repression and Resistance
An exploration of Spain and Latin America’s authoritarian regimes and the movements that fought against them.
Number of titles: 91
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 621
SEE COLLECTION >