User Reviews

A cult film, labeled as the "first Socialist musical comedy" made in Cuba, it has to be seen! It's the film version of a play by Eugenio Hernández Espinosa, who used the names and traits of "orixas" (gods and goddesses) of the Yoruba religion to define his characters, in a contemporary tale involving womanizer Shangó, who lives with Candelaria, but wants to seduce Caridad, Oggún's girlfriend. As in many religions, teachings are transmitted through tales and parables. The Yoruba tradition uses "patakines" (plural of patakín), which means fables (as the title says). There are very funny musical numbers, including one with tractors, and hilarious Asseneh Rodríguez's mourning in song as "Ruperta La Caimana". It is a pity that Cubans have not made other musical comedies, with so many musicians and singers in the island, except for "La bella del Alhambra", which was something different, following the format of the story of a real life stage singer and performer.