Chico and Rita (2011)

Nominated for Best Animated Film    This is not a kid's movie.  There is cursing, animated nudity, drug use, and a murder.  Do not get this movie for your kids!

As adults, however, feel free to watch.  Chico, an old man shining shoes in Havana, remembers the days long back when he was a piano player in 1948, looking for a singer to help him win a local contest.  He finds the beautiful Rita, charms her and takes her home for the night, intending to begin a musical partnership.  Then a previous paramour, Juana, shows up at his place and gets into a slap-fight with Rita, who storms out ending their career before it starts.  Chico mopes but his manager, Ramon, is undaunted and pays Rita to come to the contest and sing Chico's song.  They win a month-long engagement at a Cuban nightclub.  Rita is scouted by an American who wants her to move to New York and make it big.  She refuses to leave without Chico but, blinded by jealousy, he spurns her, gets drunk, and sleeps with Juana again.  Rita goes to New York.

A couple of years later, Ramon and Chico head to the Big Apple as well to ride the wave of popular interest in Cuban music.  They're playing dive bars while Rita is signing Hollywood contracts.  The two lovers meet again when Chico gets the gig of playing Rita's congratulations party.  Incensed, her manager goes to see Ramon.  The next day, Ramon has a brand new office and Chico has a swanky gig playing for some of the biggest names in jazz...on a European tour.  But even that isn't enough to keep them apart and when they see each other again, they make a plan to get married in Vegas on New Year's Eve.

The rest of the description is spoiler-y so I won't say anything.  This was a lot more serious than any of the other contenders in this category.  I didn't know anything about it before I watched it so I was completely surprised by everything.  It is a good movie and I feel okay recommending it with the caveat that it is not for children.