Films Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story

Subscribe
Advertising Remove ads
Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story poster

Film · 2018

Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story

Original titleYuli

Directed by Icíar Bollaín · starring Carlos Acosta, Santiago Alfonso and Laura De la Uz

  • 1 h 49 min
  • Drama · Biography · Music
  • SpainUK
  • Released in the UK 11 April 2019
  • 6.7 Users4 votes
Watch trailer Where to watch · from £2.99 Rate it

Synopsis

With 'Yuli', the director Icíar Bollaín presents the story of Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, great legend of dance and the first black dancer to perform some of the most famous ballet roles originally written for whites. Bollaín, takes us on a temporary journey through the life of Acosta, artistically nicknamed Yuli, from his childhood in an impoverished Havana to adulthood, where after feeling captivated by the world of dance, begin to forge his own legend. The screenwriter Paul Laverty ('The Angels' Share'), returns to collaborate with the director Iciar Bollaín ('Even the Rain') in this film starring Carlos Acosta himself, who plays himself during adulthood, along with Laura de la Uz ('His Wedding Dress') and Andrea Doimeadiós ('Return to Ithaca').

Where to watch Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story

All the options

Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
109 min1 hour and 49 minutes
Box office
€209,162in Spain
How long is Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story?
1 hour and 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 11 April 2019.
Who directed Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story?
Icíar Bollaín.
Who is in Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story?
It stars Carlos Acosta, Santiago Alfonso, Laura De la Uz and Andrea Doimeadiós.
Where can I watch Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story?
In the UK it is available to rent on Apple TV.
How much did Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story make?
It took €209,162 in Spain.
Advertising Remove ads

Cast

Full cast (19)
Director
Icíar Bollaín
Writers
Paul Laverty, Carlos Acosta
Music
Alberto Iglesias
Producers
Carlos Acosta, Pau Calpe, Viola Fügen, Juan Gordon
Cinematography
Alex Catalán

Videos and trailers

See the video
'Yuli' Trailer 1:553 October 2018

Photos and posters

All 18 photos

Reviews

All 2 reviews
6.7 4 votes

What the critics say

  • Caimán Cuadernos de CineCristina Aparicio From the autobiographical novel No Way Home... the manifestation of a fractured unconscious is carried out through the most formal moments of the film, those in which dance replaces a difficult… Read
  • VarietyGuy Lodge Fandom of, or even familiarity with, Acosta's work isn't a prerequisite for enjoying a film that, accurately or otherwise, shapes his life story into a classical rags-to-riches (or at least… Read

Box office

Weekend by weekend
  • Spain €209,162

Awards

All the awards

Trivia

  • Paul Laverty

    It is the third collaboration between the director Icíar Bollaín and the screenwriter Paul Laverty after 'Even the Rain' and 'The Olive Tree'.

  • Carlos Acosta

    'Yuli' is starring Carlos Acosta himself, who plays himself during adulthood.

If you liked Yuli - The Carlos Acosta Story

Advertising Remove ads