Documentary on Cuban Icon Pablo Milanés Premieres at Granada’s Festival of Southern Cinemas
Fabien Pisani’s documentary Para vivir. El implacable tiempo de Pablo Milanés premieres in Spain at Granada’s International Festival of Southern Cinemas, offering an intimate look at the life and legacy of the iconic Cuban singer-songwriter.
Pablo Milanés, a cornerstone of Cuba’s Nueva Trova movement, is back in the spotlight with the Spanish premiere of Para vivir. El implacable tiempo de Pablo Milanés. Directed by Fabien Pisani, the documentary opens the International Festival of Southern Cinemas at the Teatro del Generalife in Granada. Having already toured more than twenty countries, the film goes beyond a standard biography to explore the complex political and social landscape of modern Cuba.
The 106-minute documentary examines identity and collective memory during a fragile time for the island. Pisani, an award-winning filmmaker known for his work on Caribbean culture, frames the project as a form of family introspection. Featuring appearances by legends such as Silvio Rodríguez, Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Fito Páez, Joaquín Sabina, and Joan Manuel Serrat, the film serves as both a musical tribute and a story of emotional survival.
Granada’s festival program also includes events celebrating the singer-songwriter’s legacy. On July 18, the Teatro Isabel La Católica will host a discussion with Milanés’ widow, Nancy Pérez, and musician Caco Senante. That evening, the Federico García Lorca Center will hold a tribute concert, honoring the man behind the classic song Yolanda.
Technically, the film is a global collaboration involving Mexico, Spain, the United States, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina, with Syldavia Cinema handling Spanish distribution. Having already appeared at prestigious events like the Sheffield DocFest and the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, the documentary uses personal archives to reflect on themes of generational disillusionment.
For director Fabien Pisani, the film is a way to analyze the contradictions of a political project that has shaped millions of lives. By tracing Milanés’ career, Pisani does more than document an icon; he reflects the hopes and struggles of a generation that sought to change its reality. With this premiere, the Festival of Southern Cinemas highlights its commitment to cinema that serves as a vital historical record of resistance and connection across the Ibero-American world.