STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE
Fresa y chocolate
Cuba, 1993  | | 110  mins
Spanish with English subtitles
Directors: Tomás Gutiérrez Alea & Juan Carlos Tabío

Thursday, Aug 31
9:15 PM | The Cinematheque

Havana, Cuba, 1979. Flamboyantly gay artist Diego (Jorge Perugorría) attempts to seduce the straight and strait-laced David, an idealistic young communist, and fails dismally. But David conspires to become friends with Diego so he can monitor the artist’s subversive life for the state. As Diego and David discuss politics, individuality and personal expression in Castro’s Cuba, a genuine friendship develops between the two. But can it last? Strawberry and Chocolate became an instant hit when it was released, and has become a classic of Cuban cinema due to its charming and authentic exploration of a connection between two people under historical circumstances that seem levelled against them.

“Watching [Gutierrez Alea’s] funny and likeable Havana-set comedy is like chancing upon some undiscovered early gem by Godard or Woody Allen, and yet it has a worldliness and drollery that is all its own.” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Diego, homosexual culto y marginado, ama a su país y a sus tradiciones. Conoce a David, joven estudiante universitario, inculto y militante de la Juventud Comunista. El primero intenta seducir al segundo sin éxito, mientras David conspira con volverse amigo de Diego para documentar su vida subversiva para el estado. Entre conversaciones sobre la política, la individualidad y la libertad de expresión en lal Cuba de Castro, se establece una relación amistosa genuina que derrumba incomprensiones, prejuicios e intolerancias.

Producers: Camilo Vives, Frank Cabrera, Georgina Balzaretti
Writers: Senel Paz, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea
Cinematographer: Mario García Joya
Editors:  Miriam Talavera, Rolando Martínez, Osvaldo Donatién
Cast: Jorge Perugorría, Vladimir Cruz, Mirta Ibarra

 

Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (Havana, Cuba, 1928-1996) is one of the greatest Cuban filmmakers of all time. He wrote and directed more than 20 features including Memorias del subdesarrollo (1968), and is highly regarded for his sharp insight into post-revolutionary Cuba and delicate balance between dedication to the revolution and criticism of its policies.

Juan Carlos Tabío (Havana, Cuba, 1942) is a director and writer who has produced over 30 films, including Lista de espera (2000), which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.

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