She is a scientist. He is a Lebanese doctor. They meet at a banquet and fall into a carefree, passionate relationship. But difficulties abound because of his heritage and her loveless marriage. She flies to Havana to sort things out on the beach and in the cabarets. She sends him a ticket, but harbors no illusions that He will join her in this Caribbean melting pot.
Writing
Entire dialogue in verse—Shakespearean audacity meets kitchen sink realism.
Direction
Sally Potter's unstoppable formal experimentation.
Acting
Joan Allen delivers longing through micro-expressions alone.
Director
Sally Potter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sally Potter wrote the screenplay in verse first, then translated to 'normal' dialogue—hated it, switched back.
The film was partly a response to post-9/11 anti-Arab sentiment, using romance to humanize what politics dehumanized.
US
GB
