Sergio and Sergei

Sergio and Sergei is a 2017 Cuban drama film directed by Ernesto Daranas. It was selected as the Cuban entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. However, it was not on the final list of submitted films released by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in October 2018. Plot Sergio is a professor of Marxist philosophy at Havana. He is also a radio ham. His Jewish-American contact Peter sends him a modern radio. Through it, Sergio contacts and befriends Sergei, a Soviet cosmonaut in Mir space station. Meanwhile, a failed coup brings the end of the Soviet Union. Sergei has to wait until the new Russia can rescue him. Sergio endures the hardships of post-Soviet Cuba. With the help of his balsero (raft building) building neighbor, Sergio distills moonshine and his mother makes cigars, so that his daughter Mariana has milk. Their informer neighbor Ramiro snitches to officer Lía about Sergio's illegalities. Sergei is concerned with the hardships suffered by his family in post-Soviet Russia and threatens to denounce them publicly. Sergio contacts Peter who pressures an FBI acquaintance. Out of national pride, Russian president Boris Yeltsin orders Sergei's rescue. After the landing, Sergio and Sergei rejoice via radio. In a dreamlike-sequence, Ramiro breaks free of gravity and flies to Mir.