Turn off before living

Paul, on a trip to Havana, is experiencing difficulty keeping a smile on his troubled face. He meets Agnela, a young local working girl, whose job it is to please with a practiced smile of her own. No matter, how close they get or how hard they try to soothe their broken souls, their attempts remains vain. They are too busy disconnecting themselves from hidden, unwanted emotions to achieve a true much needed human contact.

Directed by Annick Blanc, Turn off before living leans on a strong ensemble — Mathieu Dufresne, Maxime Le Flaguais, Yoandra Suárez — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2014.