Alonso Ruiz Palacios's Behaviour may seem to be about classroom deportment — whether student or teacher — but it casts more interesting light on how Cuba should be conducting itself in its current transitional period.When the elderly teacher Carmela becomes too engaged with the underprivileged students Yeni and Chala she runs athwart of the school authorities and is pressured to retire. When administrator Sonia suggests she has taught too long, Carmela asks whether she thinks the government has been in power too long. That would make the film seem reactionary, pro-Castro and opposed to change.But there's more to that picture. Yeni marks a classmate's death by posting on the class bulletin board a Catholic card that he had given her. Sonia wants it removed because the government inspector would condemn the school for such a religious display. Carmela insists on leaving it till the girl is ready to remove it. She values the student's emotional support over the government's policy on religion. That suggests a change from tradition.Sonia herself is presented as a woman of modern style, wealth, slickness, in short, perhaps a harbinger of the looming capitalism. Her values are efficiency and modernity, even if that disadvantages the school's troubled charges. As she represents the incoming Cuba and Carmela the outgoing, then the film's concern may be how to preserve the best of the old Cuba — its education, medicine, socialist ideals — while still admitting the new and progressive. Thus Carmela is supported by two former students now on staff, and a young black woman she trains to continue her values.The film also mobilizes the feminine sensitivity against traditional machismo. Yeni insists Chala dissociate himself from his mother's partner Ignazio's dog-fight business. She encourages the feminine sensitivity he shows with his pigeons. As a corrective she assigns him Jack London's White Fang. Carmela insists Ignazio accept responsibility for both Chala and his druggie mother, significantly reducing the man's swagger. As the school is obviously a microcosm of Cuba, Palacios is balancing social realism with some pointed reflections on how Cuba might preserve the best traditions and move away from the worst.

Going to a film which gets good remarks still happens to be ordinary or cute and boring. I was actually thinking about passing this. Thank God I didn't. Conducta (Behaviour) is a true gem on all accounts, and has been a monster hit in it's native country Cuba. Aging teacher Carmela has an extra place in her heart for the kids coming from broken families and difficult family relations. 11 year old Chala is a troublemaker, and earn the money to keep his mother running on drugs and alcohol by training special pigeons and dogs for illegal dog fights.He is infatuating with class mate Yeni, which hasn't got the proper right to attend school, because her father is work-less and outside of his county. Carmela gets in trouble by her support for these two pupils, and the young headmaster wants her dismissed. It's also a love story, and a story about a teachers' importance.This film is simply amazingly well made. Perfect photography, amazing acting in a perfect script. This could simply not be made better in any way! Young Chala is played so amazingly well by Armando Valdez Freire that it's almost unbelievable. The others are equaling the play. Such amazing instruction. So natural, so real, and upright charming.The film in some way resembles Walter Salles amazing "Central do Brazil" (1998) and also to some extent "Dead Poets Society" (1989), but is even better.I saw this film with English subtitles on the premiere night at the Films from the South Festival in Oslo in a packed theater giving standing ovations after screening.Treat yourself to see this. In fact, go head over heels to see it. But remember to bring some napkins to stop the tears. What a gem! What a film!What to criticize on such a film? Hm... I surrender!!!

This was the opening film at Sydney Latin American Film Festival (SLAFF) 2014. What one to choose! Amazingly well done. We may have seen the story done one way or another, but the situation this is set in overlays such complexities. Encompassing all the stories was all life, not aspects of it. Also, the energy of the young lead actors was amazing. So strong. Boy/girl stuff far beyond the limited scope of typical films. These are tough people for ones so young. Totally impressive, let alone both so physically attractive for their ages, especially in the faces. So expressive!Incredible work considering the subject matter.So, we see it. What are we going to do about it? How do we return sovereignty to countries, and exchange such cultural diversities?Thx, SLAFF, for presenting such an incredible film!

A quite interesting and satisfying movie though, for me, less so than BUQUENQUE but more so than PABLO (for those of you who follow recent Cuban productions). CONDUCTA shows the harsh side of Cuban life in various ways and demonstrates attitudinal differences very reflective of Cuban society in 2014. Wonderful acting by the young cast. Music use seems like a last-minute and cheap addition to the movie, which deserves an original score that would in fact be quite achievable in Cuba. The movie has theatrical release in Cuba, which demonstrates the liberal approach Cuba has taken to providing public funding for films that are constructively critical of Cuban society.