On the Roof
(El techo)
Patricia Ramos | Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Romance
2017 | 75 minutes | Cuba, Nicaragua
A deliciously offbeat romantic comedy from Cuba, On the Roof doesn’t shy away from tackling the problems facing contemporary youth.
Synopsis
In this feel-good ensemble dramedy, a flat rooftop in an old Havana neighborhood is the natural habitat for three friends who spend their days and nights dreaming about the future.
Yasmani is an amateur pigeon fancier who is too shy to talk to a girl he likes; Victor José has convinced himself of his Sicilian descent and now prefers to go by Vito; Anita is five months pregnant and pretends that she doesn't care who the father is. In the midst of their boredom, without money and dreaming about success, they decide to set up their own business. The cost of this dream will finally lead them to personal maturity, but with some difficulty.
A deliciously off-beat romantic comedy, On the Roof doesn't shy away from tackling the problems facing contemporary Cuban youth. The film offers an impeccable balance of colloquial charm and universal appeal. Patricia Ramos and her excellent cast have crafted highly relatable characters with varying degrees of ambition, ingenuity, and quirk.
Reviews
"Ramos' stories are funny and down to earth, offering a much welcome look at contemporary Cuba." — Manuel Betancourt, Remezcla
"The rooftop terrace as a place of limited freedom could be a symbol in El Techo; it's an open space, however, teenagers there remain immersed in torpor and daily life, locked up in their own present without prospects for the future." — Irina Echarry, Havana Times
"One of the most interesting proposals of Cuban cinema in this [Havana Film] Festival." — Mayté Madruga Hernández, Cuba Cine
Citation
Main credits
Ramos, Patricia (film director)
Ramos, Patricia (screenwriter)
Jiménez, Humberto (film producer)
Galbán, Enmanuel (actor)
Doimeadiós, Andrea (actor)
Navarro Eloseguis, Jonathan (actor)
Sánchez Alonso, Noslen (actor)
Albellar Hernández, Roberto (actor)
Other credits
Director of photography, Alán González; editor, Kenia Velázquez; music, Juan Antonio Leyva, Magda Rosa Galbán.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Economics + Social Class Issues
Family
International Relations
Latin American Studies
Migration Studies
Sociology
Youth
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival - Best Narrative Feature
Havana Film Festival - Sarah Gomez Award
Cuba's Journalist Union Award (UPEC)
Providence Latin American Film Festival - Best Director, Best Supporting Actress
Chicago Latino Film Festival
Miami Film Festival
Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival - Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature
DIRECTOR: Patricia Ramos
NATIONALITY: Cuba, Nicaragua
YEAR: 2017
GENRE: Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Romance
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, 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
The Companion
El acompañante
The Foam of Days
La espuma de los días
In Havana
The City of the Future
A cidade do futuro
Calls from Moscow
Llamadas desde Moscú
We Are Mari Pepa
Somos Mari Pepa
Vicenta B
Album for the Youth
Álbum para la juventud
The Travel Agent
Pequeñas mentiras piadosas
Return to Cuba
Volver a Cuba
The Padilla Affair
El Caso Padilla
Lessons for Luca
Fidelandia: Behind the Curtain of Cuba's Revolution
Everybody Leaves
Todos se van
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 >Romance Reel
Indulge in the timeless allure of love with a captivating collection of films destined to leave you breathless and longing for more.
Number of titles: 32
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Immigration and Exile
A captivating exploration of migration and exile experiences.
Number of titles: 109
SEE COLLECTION >Women's Voices
These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.
Number of titles: 216
SEE COLLECTION >High School Collection
Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.
Number of titles: 509
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: 637
SEE COLLECTION >