Miami, Aug. 12, 2016 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Tower Theater presents the U.S. commercial release of the independent film The Companion (El acompañante), directed by Cuban filmmaker Pavel Giroud, opening Friday, Aug. 19. This exclusive U.S. release will precede the Cuban commercial release next month. Two special screenings will take place on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 4:15 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. Orishas singer and actor Yotuel Romero will present the film at both screenings. There will be Q&A following the 4:15 p.m. screening.
The Companion has won Audience Awards in several important Film Festivals, including the 2016 Miami Film Festival. The leading characters are played by renowned actor Armando Miguel (Conduta and Melaza) and Romero, lead singer of the internationally-known Cuban group the Orishas, which recently reunited after eight years apart. The film screening coincides with the group’s first Miami concert together again, on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Fillmore in Miami Beach.
Set in Cuba in 1984, The Companion narrates the unlikely friendship between Horacio, a world-class boxing champion, and Daniel, a conflictive patient in an asylum. After failing a drug test, Horacio has no other choice than to serve his sentence at Los Cocos, a sanatorium under military rule where HIV patients are compulsorily confined, with the exception of a weekly pass to visit their families under the supervision of personal wardens called “companions.” As a “companion,” he is assigned to keep an eye on Daniel, the most conflictive patient in the ward, and get him to comply with the regulations. Their interests immediately collide as Daniel intents on spending his last days in freedom and is ready to do anything to make this happen. Horacio, on the other hand, dreams about boxing again to get his champion status back. For that to happen, however, he must first win this battle out of the ring.
The Companion will continue playing at the Tower Theater through Aug. 25.
For tickets and more information, please call the Tower Theater at 305-237-2463, or visit www.towertheatermiami.com.