Young Rebels (Jóvenes Rebeldes)
USA/Cuba, 2005, 70 min. Directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck

Young Rebels follows five Cuban hip-hop groups and two producers over the course of a Havana summer. Battling onstage or at home, the characters’ personal travels collide in a summer of explosive concerts, intense debate, unbearable heat and rising tensions as government agencies begin to institutionalize hip-hop’s street roots. From the makers of the acclaimed feature film Half Nelson.

“Young Rebels is essential viewing for anyone interested in rap music, free speech issues or the youth culture of contemporary Cuba.” – Dana Stevens, The New York Times

“Affably ambling pic is particularly strong in examining the economics of rap.” – Richard Scheib, Variety

“Young Rebels is at least as sharp as Buena Vista Social Club” – Robert Christgau, The Village Voice

“A labor of love, Young Rebels is essential viewing for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the hip-hop curve.” – V.A. Musetto, New York Post

“Fascinating” – indieWIRE

“As young Cuban musicians with few hopes of commercial success embrace rap music, they look at American hip-hop with a mixture of pride (in the purity of their own political and social messages) and envy (at the wealth and fame achieved by American rappers). This informative doc introduces us to a number of these earnest young pop messengers, who barely have the resources to make a CD... but have the wherewithal to organize a rap festival.” – Stephen Holden, The New York Times

“An eye-opening movie, both socially and politically.” – David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

Official Selection New Directors/New Films 2005
San Jose Cinequest Film Festival 2005
IDFA Flies Tropics (Suriname) 2006
Tekfestival (Roome, Italy) 2006
Madrid's Hip Hop Festival 2006