Screening 2: Thursday, April 3, 2025

YULI: THE CARLOS ACOSTA STORY (2018)

Director: Icíar Bollaín
Country: Cuba/Spain
Release Year: 2018
Genre: Biography
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 104 min
 
Synopsis: Yuli tells the fascinating life story of ballet superstar Carlos Acosta, who forged a legendary career over 17 years as principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet until his retirement in 2015. From an early age, Yuli (his childhood nickname), found himself drawn to the streets of his run-down Havana neighborhood. But his father wanted a way out for his youngest child and coerces him into attending Cuba’s famous National Dance School. How does Yuli turn from a wild child into a world-famous dancer who “lacerates the air with shapes so clear and sharp they seem to throw off sparks” (Independent, UK)? Find out in this biopic-documentary hybrid, which artfully weaves together reimagined scenes from Acosta’s youth and dance career, performed by a stellar Cuban cast and members of the Acosta Danza company, and highlights from some of his choreography and spectacular ballet performances.

Awards:
Best Screenplay  – San Sebastian International Film Festival, 2018
Best Film – Nantes Spanish Film Festival 2019 

WATCH THIS FILM ON 4/3 @ 5PM
 

Co-sponsored by the Department of Film and Media Studies, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. This year’s festival includes screened materials selected and provided in collaboration with the undergraduate courses Spanish 186: Juan Rulfo and Spanish 160: Luso-Hispanic Film.

We gratefully acknowledge the UCI Humanities Center for making this event possible through the Building Intellectual Community grant.

This event is FREE and Open to the Public.