Cuba may be an idyll for Russians, but in Moscow, Cubans are not so welcome.  It beggars the thought of what would have become of these four immigrant lads, if telephones had yet to be invented. Due to the situation in Russia, they are isolated in a snow- bound, grim Moscow apartment. There is nothing to do but communicate with their friends and family in Cuba via their phones. These phones become a lifeline, there is no food in evidence to speak of, and no human contact other than with each other.  So, they survive and resist madness thanks to the company of a voice or a face on the telephone, interspersed with political chatter from the choiceless Muscovite TV or the news from Cuba on the internet.

Street scenes of the city are framed with faceless soviet high-rise blocks and the only movement in sight are the massive snow ploughs, a few odd cars and the odd individuals hurrying around.  This emphasizes the feelings of an alien world and the sense of isolation. In the same way, inside these very buildings, with lifts that take forever to rise and fall, the 4 Cuban lads are trapped in limbo, missing their families and helpless to improve their lot.   

Payments, for work done, are delayed and  new work is not appearing on the horizon in these uncertain times, so beleaguered with rumours of war. One lad spends time practising his Russian on the phone. Things are clearly no better in Cuba with disturbing reports of how the police abuse citizens with impunity. Russia is seen as threatening, not only the USA, but also to Cubans who live outside of Cuba, by threatening them in Miami. 

The four lads sporadically share a blood red jacket with an ornate feather neck trim, it is a cross between an exotic bathrobe and an overcoat. Over the top, it clashes wildly with the depressingly drab contents of the apartment, where all is grey and faceless, like the city outside.  Even the skies, shrouded in clouds, fail to reveal the slightest glimpse of colour. In this monotone, the red garment is like the only sign of life in sight. They share wearing it for moments, here and there, as if it could bring some of their beloved Cuban colour and energy into this sad Muscovite atmosphere.

The sound track of the documentary rests on the recorded telephone conversations by the lads, to and from Cuba, revealing some of the trials and tribulations suffered by many immigrants, who, having been shunted from Macedonia to Serbia, and back, find themselves abandoned on the borders of Kosovo, and of course, having been fleeced in the process.

Now the lads try to arrange to return the key to the apartment that was supposed to only be a transit stop, but had turned into so much more.

One of the lads, Daniel, tries to get involved in making some money from flogging a costly method   to improve erectile function.  We hear the conversations with potential customers and see how Daniel tries to persuade them. He does try quite hard, but is not very successful.  The customers are based across the world, in Bogotá.

There is a finality and a deep loneliness and sadness to the film due to the situation that these lads have found themselves in.  Pragmatic and resilient, they cope with the boredom hanging onto their telephones, that, with a functioning battery, become so much more than an accessory.

Luis Alejandro Yero

Luis Alejandro Yero is also known for the short ‘Los Viejos Heraldos’, (‘The old Herald’) in the sense of messengers of peace. He obtained his degree from the International Film & Television School (EICTV) and his short films have been screened at many festivals having received awards in Mar del Plata & Havana in 2018 and at FICUNAM in 2019. His aim is to explore political violence in mundane every day settings, and how people can rise above it. He seems extremely interested in how sound, even in the background, can add to the affect and the way events can be expressed.

Clearly, in ‘Calls from Moscow’, with minimal funding and crew, Luis Alejandro Yero talks about a way of life so many people have to endure, when they find themselves far from home, in what amounts to an alien world on the brink of yet more violence.

Calls from Moscow (2023) Documentary

Director: Luis Alejandro Yero/ Production: Lucía Sapelli, Daniel Sánchez, and Luis Alejandro Yero/ DOP: María Grazia Goya/ Direct sound: Luis Alejandro Yero/ Sound design and mix: Saulo Adrián, Pablo Cervera. & Luis Alejandro Yero

CAST: Daryl Acuña, Eldis Botta, Juan Carlos Calderón. Daniel Díaz, and Luis Alejandro Yero.