The potential was there, considering the promising premise and talented performers involved; however, the final product falls short. The film wanders aimlessly, burdened by an excessive number of plots, subplots, and storylines that lack a cohesive narrative thread. It feels stretched thin, as if it would have been better suited as a six-part series rather than a feature film, because ultimately, the various elements don't quite come together. Director Olivier Assayas attempts to connect the political and personal experiences of five Cubans who eventually find themselves in Florida during the 1990s. Edgar Ramirez portrays "Rene," a tourist pilot who abruptly abandons his wife, Penelope Cruz ("Olga"), steals an airplane, and defects to the United States. He joins forces with "Juan Pablo" (Wagner Moura), becoming part of a group dedicated to helping other Cubans escape to America. Their efforts to undermine Castro's government lead them down increasingly complicated moral paths while Olga struggles with daily life back home raising their daughter. This accounts for only the initial thirty minutes; numerous additional characters and narratives unfold subsequently, including CIA involvement and the 1997 hotel bombings—all presented in a very episodic manner. The film tries to pack too much into its two-hour runtime, which negatively impacts the development of the characters. It's not that viewers dislike or fail to empathize with them; instead, one never truly feels like they understand or connect with these people – Gael García Bernal’s portrayal of "Control" is notably lacking in both threat and nuance. While the cinematography showcasing Cuba and the Canary Islands is visually appealing, and the cast looks fantastic, the film desperately needed greater focus and a more rigorous refinement of its plot.

Source on TMDB