'Los Frikis' Film Explores Punk Rockers' Fight for Freedom in 1990s Cuba

The movie, based on true events, delves into a subculture of Cuban youth who injected themselves with HIV to escape political repression.

'Los Frikis,' directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, tells the story of disenfranchised Cuban punk rockers in the 1990s who sought freedom in government-run HIV sanitariums.
The film stars Héctor Medina as Paco, a rebellious guitarist, alongside Adria Arjona and Eros de la Puente, with Medina also serving as a co-producer.
Set during Cuba's 'Special Period' of economic and political crisis, the movie depicts the harsh realities of repression and the punk movement's search for self-expression.
Medina underwent a rigorous physical and emotional transformation for his role, including learning to play music with era-specific instruments and adopting a punk rock persona.
After a successful festival run, 'Los Frikis' premieres in New York and Los Angeles on December 20, with a broader release in select cities on December 25.