In a rough neighborhood of Havana, there is a boxing gym that Samuel Fabbri, from Bologna, opened with his friend and Olympic champion Orlandito Martinez, who has since passed away. There, aspiring boxers are trained from a young age to get them off the streets and encourage them to dream big. It’s a microcosm that reflects contemporary Cuba—as vibrant as it is on the brink of collapse—where teenagers like Haiffer and Adrialis grow up both inside and outside the ring, navigating relationships with their families, friends, and coaches: different generations preparing for a “pelea” against the most modern gym in Old Havana, which could eitherrevive the gym’s fortunes or spell its end after more than twenty years of resilience.

Bologna and Havana, Cuba and Emilia-Romagna: what binds them together is a common thread embodied by one man, Samuel Fabbri, who carries with him the weight and honor of a shared history, one that spans sports and social redemption. Cristiano Regina, an independent filmmaker making his debut collaboration with Articolture, uses a story with unique elements to offer an in-depth and unbiased portrayal of life in Cuba, going beyond ideology and stereotypes.

*A tu lado* is a documentary directed by Cristiano Regina, written with Ruggero Tantulli and Nuri Duarte, produced in collaboration with Fractal (Spain) and GatorosaFilms (Cuba), with support from the Creative Europe MEDIA Slate Fund, Ibermedia, the Emilia-Romagna Region, ICEC, ICAIC.

The project is currently in distribution and is represented internationally by Habanero Films Sales.
Distribution in Italy is being handled in collaboration with the Italy-Cuba Association and several community gyms across Italy.
To support the activities of the Gymnasio de Boxeo Centro Havana, visit the Sharedoc website.