Pablo is beautiful. He has a very special look and a mysterious aura. Perhaps for being the nephew of Ernesto Che Guevara, who above all, was a very beautiful man. But I believe also that because he was formed in a time of avant-garde theater in Cuba and in the blood he carries a time that has been left, unfortunately, far behind.
Born in Buenos Aires but since childhood he studied in Havana. He graduated from ISA, and since he was acting student he joined the Buendía theater troupe, with his teacher Flora Lauten. He was in shows like Las perlas de tu boca, La vida en rosa and Otra tempestad. He also joined The Public Theater under the “fun and relaxation” [1] of Carlos Diaz, did The Seagull, Icarus and The Madwoman of Chaillot. He participated in the film Che, by Steven Soderbergh, as accent couch to Benicio del Toro, in Oak odor [2], and in other international productions.
He is now in Havana, shooting Horses, the debut of Fabian Suarez [3], an independent film in which he plays Solomon, a gay from a Cuban aristocratic family that is leaving.
How do you get to Horses?
I don’t have it clear yet. And I did not want to ask much either. I think Carlos Diaz, reading the script, he said I could do that character. Fabian contacted me. And since I read the script I said of course I’d do it.
What do you think of the script?
It is a script of relationships, looks. The key is what is not written. It has that time in Cuba, another time. People are, no other concerns are, can spend hours watching the sea. And I liked that pace. I think it will be a very nice film.
How do you relate to Solomon, your character in Horses?
Fabian said he had chosen the actors because he sensed that the characters had to do with them. It’s my age or a conflict that touch me. He may have some of my gestures. It is a rich character, any actor would love to do it and especially that time is running out. And for me it’s a challenge because this is a more calm film, more conversation, more than I expected. I’ve always done things of more histrionics and it fascinates me.
What differences do you see in this script with what Cuban cinema has been done lately?
I’m not really aware of what is happening in Cuba. The last I saw was Ana’s film, a film about the survival of the people. Horses has nothing to do with the lack of bread, or the special period. It comes with a different flight, try to be in another place. To me anyway, I do not like placing a product in relation to the other that it is not only because of ignorance but because the creators go about their ways and none is more valid than another. I know there are younger people who are doing other things but do not know what the difference with Horses are.
There are several actors Cubans who live outside Cuba, interested to work again here, what do you think of that return?
I am very happy with that. The diaspora here has been a tremendous thing. They have been lost around the world for many generations, not only of creative people like us all. Reversion not only means that we’re not doing well in the place where we live but we are also betting on doing things in the place where we create. Because even though I was not born in Cuba, I live here since I was eight and I was brought up here.
The outside is very complicated life. You have to start from scratch to know you, not compete on equal terms and there comes a time when you ask yourself if it is worth it. If it is better to return to a place where you already have some space, where somehow you knew and the thing makes you easier. Never have everything in life, here there is no safety but the safety equipment to do something that you really like. I’d love to come back worldwide. I know of people who are thinking of returning, who lives in Spain and I consider very valuable. Not the same be worried about how to tell a text, an intention or minimal gesture, which is the concern that I like to have in life to be worried about how I will be the dish that I have to serve a client. I think that happens to all who need to return to work. I now feel alive.
What’s left for you to do?
I’ve come to accept only things that interest me and I have big dreams, but I want to live for many years and do everything.
The outside one is very complicated life. You have to start from scratch for people to know you, not compete on equal terms and there comes a time when you ask yourself if it is worth it. If it is better to return to a place where you already have some space, where somehow you were known and that makes things easier for you. You never have everything in life, here there is no safety but the safety equipment to do something that you really like. I’d love everybody to come back. I know of people who are thinking of returning, that lives in Spain and I consider very valuable. It is not the same to be worried about how to tell a text, an intention or minimal gesture, which is the concern that I like to have in life to be worried about how the dish that I have to serve a client will be. I think that happens to all who need to return to work. I now feel alive.
What’s left for you to do?
I’ve come to accept only things that interest me and I have big dreams, but I want to live for many years and do everything.
For: Rogelio Orizondo
Author
Redacción OnCuba
