Baracoa

Leonel (9) and Antuán (13) share a close friendship that shapes their everyday life in a remote village in Cuba. Between playful adventures, mischievous pranks, and conversations about life, the two boys enjoy carefree summer days—but a drastic change is already casting its shadow: Antuán is about to move to the distant capital city of Havana, threatening to change their inseparable childhood world forever. Between childlike carefreeness and the first serious questions of life, the two boys explore their world with a curiosity shaped by the rhythm of Cuban country life. But while Antuán becomes increasingly fascinated by the promise of the big city, Leonel stays behind, torn between the fear of being alone and the hope of finding his own place in a changing society. BARACOA premiered at the Berlinale in the Generation Kplus section and has been shown at numerous festivals worldwide. The film captivates with its intimate, poetic imagery and captures with impressive authenticity the atmosphere of a life oscillating between tradition and change. Director Pablo Briones and co-directors Sean Clark and Jace Freeman use their observational narrative style to create a fascinating document about friendship, childhood, and the transition to adulthood.