Cinephile Sundays: Viva Cuba

Hosted by the Cinema and Media studies department, the Cuba Si series intends to celebrate and perhaps interrogate the return to normality of the Cuba-USA relations. The five films in the series have been chosen in accordance to three criteria. The first is roughly chronological-political. We move from a film celebrating the revolution through films that openly question it to more recent fare that seeks to move beyond the binary. The second criterion is aesthetic and film historical. Several films have systematically ranked highly in most critical accounts of all Latin American cinema. Likewise, two films have been made by what is undoubtedly Cuba's most (inter)nationally famous auteur, namely Tomás Gutiérrez Alea. The third criterion is the presence of a gay-themed film that we plan to link with a mid-week showing of another similarly themed film followed by a lecture on Queer Cinema and Cuba by distinguished Scholar David William Foster.

Directed by Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida Malberti Cabrera, Viva Cuba (2005) marks the final screening in the five-film Cuba Si series. As the first Cuban film to be awarded Grand Prix Écrans Juniors for Children's Cinema at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, Viva Cuba has won 46 national and international awards in full. Intriguing stylistic and thematic touches abundant, this crowd-pleaser is a parable for present-day Cuba seen from the point of view of two children, whose story reflects that of Romeo and Juliet in a context of politically-motivated family feuds. Themes of emigration, class struggle, friendship, and family shape this independent film. Both a road movie and fairy tale at once, Viva Cuba garners the appreciation of children and adults alike, without falling into Disney-like tropes and mannerisms. Indeed, what better way to end the Cuba Si series than showing a Cuban live-action film that can be attended by parents and their children?

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