
Havana Divas
S. Louisa Wei • 2019
Caridad Amaran and Georgina Wong Gutierrez learned the art of Cantonese opera in the1930s in Havana. Caridad’s mentor was her Chinese foster father, Julian Fong, who immigrated to Cuba in the 1920s after his family forbade him to perform opera. Georgina’s father was a famous tailor in Havana Chinatown, who encouraged her to learn kung-fu and the lion dance. Though neither had any siblings, they formed a sisterhood on the stage. Through the 1940s, Caridad toured all over Cuba, performing in cities with Chinese communities as the leading actress of her opera troupe. Georgina quit opera to attend college, but her studies were interrupted by Castro’s 1959 revolution, and she required military service. Eventually, she went on to become a diplomat. Following their retirement, and well into their sixties, the two sisters began performing Cantonese opera again. In their eighties, they found a new audience in China.
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
1. Closing Film, Premiered in Hong Kong on Feb 11 at “Life Is Art” by MOViE MOViE Festival
Hong Kong.
2. PMQ Community Screening, Hong Kong, Feb 25 and Nov 4
2018.
3. In Competition, CAAM Fest, San Francisco, USA, May 20
2018.
4. Official Selection, Shanghai International Film Festival, Shanghai, China
June 2018.
5. Official Selection, The One Women’s International Film Festival, Chengdu, China
Sept 2018.
6. Closing Film, China Women’s Film Festival, Beijing, China
Sept 2018.
7. Opening Film, Washington DC Chinese Film Festival, Washington DC, USA, Sept 27
2018.
8. Official Selection, Women Make Wave International Film Festival, Taipei, Taiwan
2018.
9. Official Selection, Narrative Film Festival, Taipei, Taiwan, Oct 7
2018.
10. Official Selection, Seattle Latino Film Festival, Seattle, US, Oct 12
2018.
11. Official Selection, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada, Nov 2
2018.
12. Official Selection, Philadelphia Asian Film Festival, Philadelphia, USA, Nov 10
2018.
13. Official Selection, San Diego Asian Film Festival, San Diego, USA, Nov 14
2018.
14. Special Forum Screening, Open University of Hong Kong, Nov 14
2018.
15. Semi-finalist, China International Documentary Film Festival, Guangzhou
Dec 2018.
16. Official Selection, Hainan International Film Festival, Sanya
Dec 2018.
17. Special Forum Screening, HOME Manchester, Feb 12
2019.
18. Special Forum Screening, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Feb 22
2019.
19. Premiere Screening, of 2019 Director’s Cut, Hong Kong Art Festival, Tai Kwun, March 12
2019.
20. Official Selection, Cine Cina Film Festival, April 7
2019.
21. Artist-in-residence screening, University of Nevada, USA, April 9
2019.
22. Official Selection, Beijing International Film Festival
April 2019.
23. FMO Screening, Macao Art Festival
2019.
24. Official Selection, Festival Acces Asia, Montreal, Canada, May 25
2019.
25. In Competition, Houston Asian Pacific Film Festival, Houston, Texas, USA
June 2019.
CAST & CREW
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

S. Louisa Wei
Director
TRAILER
