From Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson, the directors of 2019’s Peanut Butter Falcon, Los Frikis is a coming-of-age drama set in 1990s Cuba. Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of teenagers who injected themselves with HIV to escape the country’s economic crisis by entering government-run sanatoriums.
Los Frikis had its world premiere at the 41st Miami Film Festival where it was awarded the Marimbas Award. The film was also screened at the 25th Woodstock Film Festival, the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival where it won Best Narrative Feature, and the 29th Nantucket Film Festival where it won the Narrative Feature Audience Award.
Starring the film are Adria Arjona, Héctor Medina, Eros de la Puente, with Luis Alberto García and Jorge Perugorría.
Release Date
Directed by Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson, Los Frikis opens in select New York and Los Angeles theaters on December 20, 2024, before expanding to select US theaters nationwide in December 25, 2024.
Synopsis
Inspired by true events set against the backdrop of Cuba’s 1990’s punk subculture, Los Frikis is a powerful coming-of-age story centering around Gustavo who idolizes his older brother Paco and his punk bandmates. As oppression and extreme poverty tighten their grip, the Frikis take a desperate and defiant stand, intentionally injecting themselves with HIV to gain refuge in a government-run sanatorium. There, in a world meant for isolation, they carve out their own anarchic utopia—an oasis of rock ‘n’ roll, joy, freedom and acceptance.
Reviews
Julian Roman in a MovieWeb review gave the film a score of 3.5/5, writing, “Los Frikis paints a damning portrait of needless misery and subjugation, but is also thrilling with the ecstatic power-chord frenzy of unfettered youth. The film’s endearing characters are gripping in a desperate search for freedom and humanity.”
Mark Johnson in an Awards Daily review also praised the film, writing, “Los Frikis offers a profoundly emotional journey, revealing new depths of Nilson and Schwartz’s artistry honed over the past five years. Their maturing sensibilities solidify their status as master storytellers, packing a tidal wave of raw emotion into a spellbinding tale of resilience and the enduring power of community amidst adversity. It’s a cinematic tour de force that resonates long after the credits roll.”
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Los Frikis.