7.7
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama • 2018 • 115 min
Yuli (2018)
Yuli (2018)
Overview
Yuli follows the real life of Carlos Acosta, the Afro-Cuban dancer who rose from the streets of Havana to headline the Royal Ballet in London. Directed by Icíar Bollaín, the film frames that journey through the relationship between Carlos and his demanding father, whose faith in Yoruba spiritual heritage and iron insistence on discipline ultimately shape his son's career. The traditional family signals are strong: parental authority is vindicated, not questioned. Political framing around Cuban society stays observational rather than polemical. Racial identity is central to Acosta's story as the first Black dancer cast in roles written for white performers, but the film treats this as lived biography rather than advocacy. The competing signals balance out to Neutral.
Starring Cast
Carlos Acosta • Santiago Alfonso • Keyvin Martínez
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Family Values: Strongly Traditional
Viewer Rating
7.7
Overview
Yuli follows the real life of Carlos Acosta, the Afro-Cuban dancer who rose from the streets of Havana to headline the Royal Ballet in London. Directed by Icíar Bollaín, the film frames that journey through the relationship between Carlos and his demanding father, whose faith in Yoruba spiritual heritage and iron insistence on discipline ultimately shape his son's career. The traditional family signals are strong: parental authority is vindicated, not questioned. Political framing around Cuban society stays observational rather than polemical. Racial identity is central to Acosta's story as the first Black dancer cast in roles written for white performers, but the film treats this as lived biography rather than advocacy. The competing signals balance out to Neutral.
Starring Cast
Carlos Acosta • Santiago Alfonso • Keyvin Martínez
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
Political: Center
Confidence: High
The film focuses on the personal journey of a Cuban ballet dancer, exploring universal themes of identity, family, and artistic ambition. It presents the complexities of life in Cuba, including social challenges, without explicitly endorsing or condemning its political system.
Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High
The movie features a diverse cast that authentically reflects the real-life story of a Black Cuban ballet dancer. Its narrative focuses on the protagonist's personal journey and challenges, with DEI themes present through his lived experience rather than an explicit critique of traditional identities.
Secondary
LGBTQ: Neutral
Confidence: Low
The film includes Pedro, a minor character described as flamboyant, implicitly suggesting a queer identity. His role provides comic relief and warmth but is not central to the main narrative. The portrayal is incidental, neither strongly affirming nor denigrating LGBTQ+ themes, resulting in a neutral net impact.
Family Values: Strongly Traditional
Confidence: High
The film strongly portrays traditional family values through the central role of a strict, authoritative father who guides his son's destiny, distinct gender roles within the parental unit, and the presence of spiritual beliefs influencing family decisions. Parental authority, though initially resisted, is ultimately validated as instrumental to the protagonist's success.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'Yuli' is a biographical drama centered on the life and career of Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta. Its narrative explores themes of family, ambition, and cultural heritage, but does not feature any identifiable transgender characters or themes. Therefore, the film has no impact on the portrayal of transsexual individuals.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is a biopic centered on the real-life male ballet dancer Carlos Acosta. All significant characters, including Acosta and his father, are portrayed on screen with the same gender as their historical counterparts, without any changes from established real-world identities.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is a biopic about Afro-Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta. The actors portraying Carlos Acosta and his family members accurately reflect their historical racial identities, with no instances of a character canonically or historically established as one race being portrayed as a different race.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.0
6.9
Critic Ratings
9.3
N/A
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