Alejandro Awada (1961), the Argentine star known for blockbuster like Nine Queens and The Aura by late Fabian Bielinsky is in Cuba for the first time to present Dias de Pesca by the laureate Carlos Sorin (The King’s film), one of the strong contenders for the prizes of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.
Awada, known on the island for the TV series Women of anyone, where he played the abusive husband of Susu Pecoraro (Camila, South) and the gangster Renato de Luca, in love with the capo Alberta Honorato (Leonor Benedetto) in Men of honor, which earned him a Martin Fierro award as an actor.
Incidentally, Men of honor was the last Argentinean series by legendary Alberto de Mendoza (Latimor in the spaghetti western Clumsy Hands).
As a young man tried to study economics, but after some setbacks, typical of modern life, he decided to pursue acting and in 27 years has reached an appreciable number of performances with 42 films and 23 television series, which led him to be considered among the Argentinean iconic actors.
We found him dressed in pullover and red jeans thanks to his tall stature and "gangster eyes" in the gardens of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, villa of the film festival, and he immediately agreed to an interview with the OnCuba reporter.
Tell us, please, about your training?
I had an earnest and responsible theatrical training. I am essentially a stage actor with film expressions and eventually work in TV.
What can you tell us about the film that brought you to Havana?
Fishing days, by Carlos Sorin, and also I’m in another film about Stella de Carlotto, the famous Grandmother of Plaza de Mayo.
What does Fishing days deal about?
The story of a man of 52 who goes to Patagonia without having caught a tarpon in his entire life, and with the intention of capturing a shark and reunite with his daughter. Everything happens with the pettiness and transcendent aspects of life, the struggle of a man to acquire more quality, better life. In the film I play the leading role.
What results has Fishing Days got nationally and internationally?
It traveled to San Sebastián festival, where it was well received by critics and the public, in Argentina the same. Now Sorin is in Paris for its premiere there, then in Spain and Switzerland. I, as you can see, am in Havana.
What other pleasures has cinema given you?
Working with Fabian Bielinsky in Nine Queens and The Aura.
What do you do now?
A play which is entitled Argentinien … both the theater, such as film and television, have brought to my life all possible satisfactions.
How do you see the health of Argentinean films, TV and theater today?
Now they are having a brilliant time.
Is this your first trip to Cuba?
Yes. But all my life I have carried Cuba in my heart. I wanted to pay tribute on this occasion to Ulises Dumont, a great Argentinean actor who died, a great friend of this island and Coral winning performance at a Festival of Havana for El censor, a few years ago, he always talked about the education, culture and love for the cinema of the Cuban public.
Author
Jorge Smith
