Overview
A passionate love story unfolds through the rhythms of jazz and bolero, transcending borders and heartbreak.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sensual
- wistful
- passionate
- date night
- music movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the infectious music, vivid period atmosphere, emotional romance, and ambitious adult animation, while some found the story conventional and the animation visually crude.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film’s animation is shaped around Cuban jazz and bolero performance, making musical expression central to its visual identity.
Chico and Rita repeatedly move apart and back toward one another across Havana, New York, Paris, Hollywood, and Las Vegas.
The story evokes late-1940s Havana and the international jazz world through its settings, music, and period culture.
Chico and Rita’s musical partnership and romantic desire are inseparable throughout their journey.
Films like Chico & Rita, and why
The Illusionist
adult animation, passionate romance, music-centered storytelling, and historical atmosphere
La La Land
sweeping music romance, bittersweet longing, and emotionally driven period drama
The Book of Life
Latin musical culture, romantic separation, and stylized animated storytelling
Movie Details
- Directors
- Fernando Trueba, Tono Errando, Javier Mariscal
- Release Date
- 2010-11-19
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (258)
Cast
- Mario Guerra
- Limara Meneses
- Eman Xor Oña
- Jon Adams
- Renny Arozarena
- Blanca Rosa Blanco
- Jackie de la Nuez
- Rigoberto Ferrera
- Ken Forman
- Ray Gillon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinefest Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chico & Rita about?
- A sensuous animated bolero of two Cuban musicians whose music keeps drawing them together even as ambition, distance, and desire pull them apart.
- What is Chico & Rita like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chico & Rita as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chico & Rita violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Chico & Rita.
- What did critics think of Chico & Rita?
- Critics broadly praised the infectious music, vivid period atmosphere, emotional romance, and ambitious adult animation, while some found the story conventional and the animation visually crude.
- Which films are like Chico & Rita?
- Films with a similar feel include The Illusionist, La La Land, and The Book of Life.
- How long is Chico & Rita?
- Chico & Rita runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chico & Rita?
- In United States, Chico & Rita streams on Cinefest Amazon Channel.
