In a Whisper

Two close childhood friends are separated when leaving Cuba, but they later resume contact through video correspondence in this award-winning, bittersweet documentary.

With an intimate touch and in a lyrical tone, Heidi Hassan and Patricia Pérez Fernández deliver a deeply personal and touching film based on their own experiences. They grew up together, swam together and began making film together. But when first Heidi and then Patricia chose to leave their native country for Europe, they fell out of touch. Until, in their 40s, they start to send each other video letters. Here, they talk about their lives, their filmmaking and about why they left Cuba and each other. And, not least, about their longing for the Cuba that never was. In a Whisper is an original and masterfully told film, winner of the top award at the IDFA documentary festival.

• Johan Blomqvist