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sunday

Ever since Castro came into power, there’s been a lot of righteous blather about Cuba from both supporters and opponents of the revolution. In his poetic documentary Suite Habana, filmmaker Fernando Pérez tunes out the talk in favor of a 1920s–style “city symphony” that barely skirts political issues. Following 10 people over the course of one day—and compressing that day into 80 minutes—the film forgoes dialogue in favor of images of everyday life. That doesn’t mean the movie’s subjects are altogether typical: They include a man emigrating to Miami, a young carpenter who’s also a ballet dancer, and a hospital launderer who moonlights as a drag performer. If Pérez mostly emphasizes the mundane, he can’t entirely resist the lyrical. He includes footage of flapping wings, oscillating pistons, and—an image used in just about every recent Havana film (even ones that weren’t shot there)—waves crashing on the city’s seawall. The film shows at 1 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $9.25. (301) 495-6700. (Mark Jenkins)