Local film lovers are in for a treat as the Embassy of Spain in Harare will today screen the Oscar award-winning Spanish film “Chico and Rita” at the embassy’s Cultural Centre in Belgravia. Marina Garcia Sanchez, a cultural attaché at the Spanish Embassy, described the film as a masterpiece.

“The film will be screened on Wednesday (today) at the Spanish Embassy Cultural Centre and we are expecting a lot of people to come,” she said.

“Chico and Rita” is an animated feature film directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal.

The story of “Chico and Rita” is set against the backdrop of Havana, New York City, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Paris in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice.

Music and romantic desire unite them, but their journey in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero brings heartache and torment.

This year, Spain will be represented at the 84th Academy Awards in Hollywood with three films.

“Chico and Rita” has been nominated for Best Animated Film; the Basque composer Alberto Iglesias has been nominated for his score in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; and Midnight in Paris, a Spanish co-production directed by Woody Allen, has received four nominations, including one for Best Picture.