Filmmaking Pushes Limits Of US-Cuba Embargo
Filmmaking Pushes Limits Of US-Cuba Embargo
Filmmaking Pushes Limits Of US-Cuba Embargo
(CBS4 News) COCONUT GROVE Maneuvering the fine dance between politics and art when making films in Cuba can prove difficult and oftentimes impossible. Yet, one Cuban-American filmmaker from Los Angeles has performed this dance impeccably by pushing the limits of what independent filmmaking can accomplish and what the US government will allow, with the film "Love and Suicide".
Produced by actor and writer Luis Moro, the film was first shown at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach this July.
Shot in Havana, the movie is the story of Tomas, a New Yorker played by Kamar De Los Reyes, who goes to Cuba to commit suicide. Along the way he meets Moro’s character, Alberto, a Cuban taxi cab driver who helps bridge a cultural gap between Tomas and his past.
The handsome De Los Reyes, who you might recognize from some daytime soap operas, also finds love along the way, when he meets American tourist Nina, played by Daisy McCrackin.
Together with Nina and Alberto, Tomas finds his Cuban identity, as he savors the island's culture. Moro and director Lisa France managed to capture the spellbinding charm of the poor, yet spirited island of Cuba in their film. With shots of the Malecon, old Havana, the Morro Castle, the movie is sure to inspire nostalgia among the old and spark the interest of younger generations in the island, the same way it did with the main character.
Moro’s film is now showing in Miami, but that doesn’t mean he's getting away without facing the US government scrutiny. Days after it was screened at the American Black Film Festival, the US Treasury Department notified Moro that his trip to Cuba was being investigated.
Until 2004, US Law allowed Cuban-Americans such as Moro to visit the island without a special permit, as long as they were visiting family, but visits for filmmaking were not included.
Luis, would like to see the US embargo lifted thinks the whole situation is absurd.
"But films go under freedom of speech, so we decided to go make a movie, and we did," said Moro.
Moro and France shot the movie in 2003 while attending a movie festival in Havana, using a small digital video camera, wireless microphones and handful of production crew. They thought they had escaped harassment from both governments.
"We never got any permission from the government that's all I could say," he said. "How we did it, that's our trade secret."
The film had only been showing at the AMC Theaters in CocoWalk, but is now being shown in the following theaters: AMC Theaters Aventura, Kendall Town and Country and Mall of the Americas.
For updated information on theaters and times check local listings or log onto: www.everythingcuba.com.
Daniel Lastra
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Filmmaking Pushes Limits Of US-Cuba Embargo
(CBS4 News) COCONUT GROVE Maneuvering the fine dance between politics and art when making films in Cuba can prove difficult and oftentimes impossible. Yet, one Cuban-American filmmaker from Los Angeles has performed this dance impeccably by pushing the limits of what independent filmmaking can accomplish and what the US government will allow, with the film "Love and Suicide".
Produced by actor and writer Luis Moro, the film was first shown at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach this July.
Shot in Havana, the movie is the story of Tomas, a New Yorker played by Kamar De Los Reyes, who goes to Cuba to commit suicide. Along the way he meets Moro’s character, Alberto, a Cuban taxi cab driver who helps bridge a cultural gap between Tomas and his past.
The handsome De Los Reyes, who you might recognize from some daytime soap operas, also finds love along the way, when he meets American tourist Nina, played by Daisy McCrackin.
Together with Nina and Alberto, Tomas finds his Cuban identity, as he savors the island's culture. Moro and director Lisa France managed to capture the spellbinding charm of the poor, yet spirited island of Cuba in their film. With shots of the Malecon, old Havana, the Morro Castle, the movie is sure to inspire nostalgia among the old and spark the interest of younger generations in the island, the same way it did with the main character.
Moro’s film is now showing in Miami, but that doesn’t mean he's getting away without facing the US government scrutiny. Days after it was screened at the American Black Film Festival, the US Treasury Department notified Moro that his trip to Cuba was being investigated.
Until 2004, US Law allowed Cuban-Americans such as Moro to visit the island without a special permit, as long as they were visiting family, but visits for filmmaking were not included.
Luis, would like to see the US embargo lifted thinks the whole situation is absurd.
"But films go under freedom of speech, so we decided to go make a movie, and we did," said Moro.
Moro and France shot the movie in 2003 while attending a movie festival in Havana, using a small digital video camera, wireless microphones and handful of production crew. They thought they had escaped harassment from both governments.
"We never got any permission from the government that's all I could say," he said. "How we did it, that's our trade secret."
The film had only been showing at the AMC Theaters in CocoWalk, but is now being shown in the following theaters: AMC Theaters Aventura, Kendall Town and Country and Mall of the Americas.
For updated information on theaters and times check local listings or log onto: www.everythingcuba.com.
Daniel Lastra
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
posted by peaceandjustice2005 at 8:41 AM
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