Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Revolution Rent’ On HBO Max, A Moving Documentary About Cuba’s History-Making Performance of ‘Rent’

When Rent premiered on Broadway in 1996, it made history in more ways than one. Though the show’s creator Jonathan Larson tragically passed away before Rent made its official debut on the Great White Way, the rock musical earned a slew of awards, ran for over a decade, and later earned a film adaptation in 2005. Revolution Rent, now streaming on HBO Max, continues that history-making streak and chronicles a production of Rent in Havana, Cuba. 

REVOLUTION RENT: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: 2014. For the first time in 50 years, a Broadway musical put on by an American company will premiere in Havana, Cuba. Jonathan Larson’s Rent, winner of many an award and the hearts of fans all over the world, may have debuted some 25 years ago, but in Cuba, it feels all too timely. Andy Señor Jr., who has played Angel on Broadway and on the West End, returns to his parents’ home country (despite some serious objections from his mother) to direct this production with the help of a few other Broadway big shots. A big part of Revolution Rent is what you might expect from a documentary about putting on a musical; sitting through cringeworthy auditions, soldiering through frustrating rehearsals, dealing with all the quirks that come with building out the set and getting their equipment stuck in customs.

But Revolution Rent is about more than all of this; it’s about grief, about Andy’s family facing the country they were forced to leave behind, about the very real struggles the cast members of the show are experiencing in their own lives. Some of the more affecting moments of the film come when we see one cast member, Mario, play an emotional song he’s written on the guitar, or when another, Arianna, goes to make coffee at her home and finds she has no running water. Witnessing the way this group comes together as a family to tell such a vital story to a place that desperately needs it is what makes Revolution Rent so incredibly special.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Revolution Rent might remind you of other documentaries that chronicle the stage musical process, like Hamilton’s America, The Heat is On: The Making of Miss Saigon, or Every Little Step, though Revolution Rent certainly has more of a personal touch.

Performance Worth Watching: This film really belongs to Andy Señor Jr., who bares a piece of his soul to us in all the revelations shared with family and with the cast of Rent. Some of the more pivotal moments with his mother may be relatively short-lived in relation to the rest of the film, but it’s significant all the same, allowing us to see who this person is and how he’s been shaped by his parents and his Cuban roots. It’s easy to see why Señor Jr. has directed productions of Rent all over the world; he’s charming and seems to be a natural leader, bringing his cast together with acts of tough love and honesty.

Memorable Dialogue: There are so many moving and emotional tidbits in Revolution Rent, but I got such a giggle when Yoset stood up crying at their peasants’ feast and said “thank you life for giving me this amazing talent” and the rest of the room burst out laughing and cheering for him.

Sex and Skin: None, unless you count the occasional reference to Rent‘s more scandalous lyrics.

Our Take: It only took a few minutes of Revolution Rent to reduce me to tears. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for Rent, having obsessively watched the film as a teen until I had the chance to see it on Broadway right before it closed. Or maybe it’s because Jonathan Larson’s work has affected millions of people all over the world, and here we’re able to witness firsthand how it crosses language barriers and political differences to tell a story of love. I’m not all that sure that Revolution Rent works fully as a personal piece about Andy  Señor Jr., as a lot of the moments with his family feel rushed, but it does work as an exploration of how this text is still changing lives and minds some 25 years after its debut.

Revolution Rent really hits its stride when it draws parallels between its Cuban cast members and the heart and soul of Rent, really driving home just how meaningful being a part of this production is to these people. One cast member discovers he’s HIV-positive right before he’s cast in the show, another loses her marriage during the process. These people dream of having the means to travel and see the world, to pursue their dreams, to build families or leave the country. The humanity on display in Revolution Rent is what makes it such a deeply touching film, allowing us to see the impact of art and community and connection. The film may struggle to juggle its stories at times, but for lovers of the musical (or of any creative process), Revolution Rent will certainly hit home.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Revolution Rent is a moving reminder of just how powerful art can be and why Rent is still changing lives 25 years later.

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.

Stream Revolution Rent on HBO Max