Saturday 4th May – Palace Nova Prospect
Using the art form of dance to help tell the life of legendary Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta in a film was the perfect way to give this story justice. We learnt of the struggles of the young Yuli as he was affectionally called by his strict and relentless father Pedro to become the successful world renown dancer. Filled with emotional highs and lows taking you on the journey with the young and teenage Yuli it was hard not shed a tear with each heartbreak or smile with each triumph.
Growing up, young Acosta played by Edlison Manuel Olbera Núñez preferred to play football with his friends than dance the graceful steps of ballet. He often rebelled against his father and the academy not realising at such a young and impressionable age what his talents could provide for his future growing up in poverty stricken Communist Cuba.
Keyvin Martínez plays the teenage Costa where he faced with not having his family around him for the emotional support he craved. The film cleverly intertwines the young, teenage and adult life of Costa with scenes of dance sequences where the real Acosta tells his story from his own choreography via another younger dancer.
Yuli is a beautiful film that tells the life of Carlos Acosta warts and all but respectfully and with passion.
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