What was supposed to be a night of celebration ended in discontent and frustration, after dozens of attendees at the Pabellón Cuba in Havana, who came to watch the final episode of the soap opera Regreso al corazón, reported organizational chaos, long waits, and poor event management.
"I was looking forward to celebrating my mother's birthday together. I paid for the reservation before December 5, as per the promotion, and it was a total disappointment. Poor organization, a lack of respect; it's playing with people's emotions and their finances. I won’t say more, the images speak for themselves," wrote a user on social media.
The images posted by this internet user show a huge "molotera" to access the recreational center.
Criticism flooded Facebook just a few hours after the screening. Some viewers expressed their displeasure not only about the disorder of the event but also about the artistic poverty of the ending of the novel.
"I didn't like the ending of the novel; I found it very basic and bland. And in the end, there were people who never appeared in the novel, at Alejandra and Diego's wedding—some dressed nicely and others in shorts. It was clear they were just filling the scene," commented the internet user Reinier Monteagudo Gutiérrez.
Other attendees agreed on the general discomfort: “It was catastrophic to get in, total chaos,” “What a lack of respect, although I’m not surprised,” and “Leaving the comfort of my home to be in that uproar” were some of the most shared comments.
In addition to the disarray, several attendees mentioned that the bad weather and lack of logistics further complicated the experience.
"I imagined it was like that, which is why I didn't waste my time going. The everyday Cuban lacks healthy entertainment," commented another user.
In contrast, official media and regime-affiliated pages portrayed the event as an “unforgettable night” where “emotions, applause, and shared moments between the audience and the artists were experienced.”
The concert by singer Waldo Mendoza was even highlighted as a “spectacular” closing for the event.
The event, organized by Cuban television and state cultural enterprises, brought together hundreds of people at the Pabellón Cuba, a traditional venue in Havana's Vedado neighborhood.
"One thing is what the media say, and another is what we experience. There was chaos, pushing, and poor service. No one knew where to enter or how the reservation worked," explained a young woman who attended the event.
"They sold us a cultural experience, and it ended up being a waste of time. It's the same old story: improvisation, disrespect, and zero consideration for the audience," wrote another user on Facebook.
Return to the Heart was one of the most watched telenovelas of the year in Cuba, enthusiastically followed by thousands of viewers seeking a breath of fresh air amidst daily crises.
"The Cuban just wanted to relax for a bit, and he couldn't even enjoy that in peace," summarized one attendee.
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