El Benny offers a warts-and-all but compassionate portrayal of the life of legendary singer and bandleader Benny Moré (1919–1963) – by Cuban director Jorge Luis Sanchez, that not only celebrates his extraordinary musical talent but also illuminates the broader social context of music-making by Black musicians in pre-revolutionary years. It doesn’t hide from the man’s excesses nor the racism he faced, while revealing his deep commitment to his art and his people.
The drama concentrates on the 1950s, a crucial decade in El Bárbaro del Ritmo’s artistic development and his emergence as one of the greatest Latin American musicians of the 20th century. The film opens as Benny arrives in Cuba from Mexico and is offered work by a wealthy politician which doesn’t go to plan. Betrayed and frustrated, never far from a drink, the legend puts his band back together and triumphs but misfortune and chaos surround him.
The soundtrack is outstanding, with completely newly recorded tracks by Santiago singer Juan Manuel Villi, sounding uncannily like Benny. It includes help from contemporary legends pianist Chucho Valdés, and the late Los Van Van band leader Juan Formell, who composed a special tribute heard at the end of the film.
El Benny | Jorge Luís Sánchez | 2006 | Cuba | 2h 12m
BOOK TICKETS 8.00pm Wednesday 25 March 2026 at the Garden Cinema, Screen 1
CAST Renny Arozarena (as Benny Moré), Enrique Molina, Carlos Ever Fonseca, Mario Guerra, Limara Meneses, Isabel Santos, Salvador Wood, Laura de la Uz, Kike Quiñones, Carlos Massola.
AWARDS 2006 First Prize: First Work, Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema; Music prize, Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema; Golden Leopard Nomination, Locarno International Film Festival; Boccalino Award for actor Renny Arozarena, Locarno International Film Festival; 2006 Best soundtrack – Radio Progreso Award, Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema; Official Selection II Ibero-American Feature Film Festival, Caracas; Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Original Score, Caracol National Contest, Havana; Official Selection, Palm Spring Festival, Los Angeles; 2007 Best Film Nomination, Cartagena Film Festival; Cuban Selection for Oscar Award Nomination; Best First Film, 9th Santo Domingo International Film Festival; Best Male Performance to Renny Arozarena, Audience Award,9th Santo Domingo International Film Festival; Official Selection, 24th Miami International Film Festival; Official Selection. 22nd Mar del Plata International Film Festival, Argentina. Official Selection 14th San Diego International Film Festival, United States; Official Selection 19èmes Rencontres Cinémas d’Amérique Latine de Toulouse, France; Best Actor Award (Renny Arozarena) Madrid Mósteles International Festival, Spain; Third Audience Award for Best Film, XVI International Film Festival, Paraguay; 2008 Special Mention II Latin American Film Festival Oaxaca, Mexico.
REVIEW Elcinecortazar
SCREEN CUBA, 15-28 March 2026, LONDON & BEYOND 