La Habanera
Directed by Douglas Sirk
La Habanera
Legendary director Douglas Sirk's (Written on the Wind, Imitation of Life) La Habanera is a lushly poetic and boldly modern musical drama decades ahead of its time. Working at Germany's famed UFA Studios (Metropolis), under the very noses of the Nazi authorities that would later force him into Hollywood exile and eminence, Sirk transformed a glossy musical vehicle for UFA's "new Garbo" Zarah Leander into a dark and intimate anti-colonial melodrama.
Desperate to escape the "cold Swedish minds" of her homeland, beautiful Astree (Leander) falls under the enchanting spell of the Caribbean love serenade "La Habanera" and into the arms of Puerto Rican land baron Don Pedro de Avila (Ferdinand Marian). But ten years later, when Astree's old flame Dr. Sven Nagel (Karl Martell) arrives in Puerto Rico on an errand of mercy, all is far from heavenly. Astree is trapped in a loveless marriage to Don Pedro and the island wind that once conveyed the music of romance now carries death in the form of an outbreak of airborne tropical fever. While racing to find a cure for Astree's fever stricken son, Dr. Nagel must elude both the island authorities that would have him jailed for revealing their fatal cover-up and a psychotically jealous Don Pedro who would rather see Astree dead than reunited with her lost love.
Douglas Sirk gilds La Habanera with all the dazzling compositions, swooping camera work, and ravishing but doomed characters that distinguish his revered 1950s Universal melodramas. Coolly precise yet extravagantly emotional, La Habanera is the work of an assured cinematic poet and compelling tragedian already at the peak of his skill.
Click here to learn more at Kino Lorber Edu. Interested in bringing La Habanera to your school or library? If you'd like to have an in-class viewing, on-campus screening, or purchase the DVD for your library's collection, please visit our site or contact Estelle Grosso at EDU@kinolorber.com or call (212) 629-6880 with your request.
To read more about Kino Lorber Edu's terms of use and ordering information, visit Kino Lorber Edu.
"The Reason I Jump points out the ways that centuries of misunderstanding about autism around the world... have als…' https://t.co/sbFnWhWyYo'
RT' @KLStudioClassic': Coming May 11th! Horizons West (1952) • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Toby Roan • Theatrical Trailer • Optional…
RT' @alissamarie': I quite liked THE REASON I JUMP, based on the bestselling book by an autistic author, which is now available to rent digit…
RT' @Belcourt': "A work of cinematic alchemy" – Hollywood Reporter' @THR' "An inventive, sensuous documentary" –' @Variety' "Will change the way…
“A visionary work of devastating power." –' @sightsoundmag' Fernanda Valadez’s award-winning Mexican border drama ID…' https://t.co/OxGvVDTRB3'
RT' @DiscDish': The bizarre and rarely seen 1930, pre-Code pseudo-documentary Ingagi, the inspiration for King Kong, is now restored and on…
RT' @DiscDish': From Frank Darabont comes the 1990 thriller Buried Alive starring Tim Matheson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, William Atherton and Ho…
RT' @tomsantilli': IDENTIFYING FEATURES just was named "Best International Feature" by the #GothamAwards , and is available starting this Fri…
RT' @r_emmet':' https://t.co/wafky0acDY' sez that the Tony Buba collection I produced for' @KinoLorber/@zeitgeistfilms' "is truly remarkable. Don…
RT' @KayDLlew': The Reason I Jump documentary is spellbinding and breathtaking. Run don’t walk.
General Inquiries
333 W. 39th St., Ste. 503
New York, NY 10018
Tel. (800) 562-3330
Fax. (212) 714-0871
Press & Media
For publicity assistance and press inquiries please contact us by emailing dninh@kinolorber.com or calling 212-629-6880.
Educational
Please visit our educational site at www.KinoLorberEDU.com
For assistance with educational orders, please contact us at:
Phone:212-629-6880
Fax: 212-714-0871
Email: edu@kinolorber.com