The Waiting List

Cuban comedies have long enjoyed popularity across Latin America. At first, they were mostly musical films set in Havana, once regarded as one of the most vibrant and pleasure-loving cities in the world. After the 1959 revolution, when Fidel Castro took power and established a communist regime on the island, they increasingly began to incorporate elements of social and political satire. Over time, they also became a way of easing the tensions of life in a country sinking ever deeper into poverty and oppression. Sound familiar? If Stanisław Bareja had been Cuban, he might well have made The Waiting List.

The film offers a satirical portrait of life in Cuba, where fantasy and absurdity prevail over the hardships of everyday existence. A group of travellers find themselves stranded at a bus station, trying to escape a small town in the middle of the island. Romances begin to blossom, but so do tensions and conflicts. Perhaps the old bus can finally be brought back to life – but if it can, will it head for Havana or Santiago? “They’ve got excellent connections, sir…”

Piotr Kobus

Juan Carlos Tabío (1943–2021) – Cuban director and screenwriter known for his ironic and perceptive portrayals of life in communist Cuba. His films blend humor with social critique, exposing the absurdities of daily existence. He won the Silver Bear for Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), the only Cuban film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

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