A Lady of Cuban Cinema at the Berlinale

February 22, 2025

Renowned Cuban actress Miriam Socarrás has been selected to participate in the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, which takes place from February 13-23.

Socarrás, known for her brilliant career in musical theater, television, and Cuban cinema, is part of the cast of the Brazilian film O último azul (in Spanish, El sendero azul), directed by Gabriel Mascaro, which competes in the festival's official section for the prestigious Golden Bear.

In O último azul, Miriam Socarrás shares the screen with renowned actors such as Denise Weinberg and Rodrigo Santoro. The plot unfolds in a dystopian Amazon where Tereza, played by Weinberg, a 77-year-old woman, is forced to relocate to a residential colony for the elderly due to a government policy.

Before being exiled, Tereza embarks on a journey through the jungle that Mascaro describes as "a song to dignity and memory in times of oblivion."

Miriam Socarrás embodies Roberta, an enigmatic and contrasting character: a woman who helps Tereza on her boat, teaches her the value of freedom, and becomes her adventure companion. This role represents a notable challenge for the actress and a break from the stereotypes that had pigeonholed her for so many years in supporting roles.

For Socarrás, her participation in the film is an unexpected and deeply moving event.

"I am a person who yearns and dreams about what I know is possible to achieve. As a supporting actress in Cuban cinema, I never could have imagined something so big." The actress expressed her joy at being part of one of the productions competing for the Golden Bear. "It is a gift that life has given me."

The veteran actress has demonstrated that there are no small roles, only actors capable of making them larger. Her participation in the Berlinale is recognition of the talent that has left its mark on the big screen. Despite being called "the empress of supporting roles," Miriam Socarrás has managed to make her presence in every film unforgettable.

During the filming of O último azul in the Brazilian Amazon, Socarrás lived a challenging experience, but also an enriching one. The actress described the Amazonian environment as a haven of peace that allowed her to connect with nature and reflect on life.

"The Amazon gave me a time of introspection and I understood that happiness exists in any corner of the world," she stated.

Even everyday difficulties transformed into touching anecdotes. "Before traveling, they asked me if I would have mobility problems. With humor, I showed that a mounted photo on horseback is enough to demonstrate that I'm ready for whatever comes," recounted the actress, who managed to balance the rigor of filming with an attitude full of dedication and resilience.

The collaboration with Gabriel Mascaro has been key to this professional rebirth. The Brazilian director, with his clear vision and collaborative approach, allowed every scene to be imbued with authenticity and depth.

"Gabriel knows what he wants, but he also trusts in each actor's contribution. That combination of firm direction and openness to creative dialogue was fundamental for me," she added.

The participation of O último azul at the 2025 Berlinale marks the first time since 2020 that a Brazilian production has competed for the Golden Bear. With this project, Socarrás not only brings her talent to the international screen, but also the pride of her homeland. "Representing Cuba fills me with pride, because I am Cuban like the palm trees."

For the actress, her work in this film is a celebration of dignity and memory, two values she considers fundamental in these complex times. With her participation in O último azul, she hopes that audiences around the world will identify with the message of peace, freedom, and respect for others that the film conveys.

"I felt in the Amazon a world so distant, like parallel to what we live (…) That will stay in my memory forever," stated Miriam Socarrás at the press conference.

In a world where fame and prominence often override ability and passion, Socarrás's story is a reminder that every role, no matter how small it may seem, has the power to tell a great story.

The 2025 Berlinale not only celebrates a film, but pays homage to the trajectory of an actress who has known how to make every role a declaration of love for cinema.

As critic Juan Antonio García Borrego stated, "O último azul will not be inscribed within so-called 'national cinema' nor will it adjust to the traditional notion of 'Cuban cinema.' However, it is clear that in this film—as in many others that we are unaware of—a part of the nation's cultural memory beats, a legacy that we cannot do without."

With her gaze fixed on the future, Miriam Socarrás invites us to dream and believe that it is never too late to reinvent ourselves and reach new horizons. And it is precisely that transformative force that positions her as a true living legend of Cuban cinema, ready to conquer Berlin and prove that she is much more than an empress of supporting roles.