Viva Cuba [Spanish Film]

Karthick, Harish and Shekar get to meet at a family function and pushing aside the illusion of happening event, they start discussing on a cuban film made in 2005…

A Spanish Film

Shekar: Hey, Good to catch up with you all folks.

Harish: Nice man. How is your academics coming along?

Shekar: Good. I have been working on a Internet marketing related work and would like to try promoting our blogs here.

Karthick: Yep! That would be a lovely idea. But, we don’t write masala. Do you think it is possible to take it to the crowd?

Shekar: Come on. I am sure, there is a certainly a set out there whom we can try and reach. That is certainly possible.

Harish: I agree on this. Movie freaks group has grown from 3 to 300 and certainly there is a sustained interest. But, I am not sure if we should commercialize the content though.

Shekar: We need not bother about commercializing for we can stick to our basic motive of talking in simpler terms about good movies. I am sure, it will appeal people to honestly pursue movies and take away brilliant gems and not just limit this medium for entertainment purposes and especially if kids can grow up to appreciate good content, that would be great.

Karthick: True. True. Agree with both of you here. Your mention of kids, remembers me of this cuban film called “Viva Cuba”.

While there are lot of films that have children, this movie personally stands out as it brings out not only emotional bondage between kids but also how the social and family issues that affect them.

Harish: A lot. That is a brilliant movie by Juan Carlos Cremata and Iraida
Malberti Cabrera. I guess that was nominated for oscars as well. It has a simple story line. Malu and Jorgito, from two different societal class study together. While they always quarrel, there is stronger thread of love that ties them together amidst all differences between them and their families.

Jorgito Vs Malu a.k.a Queen of Spain

Shekar: Yep! And in addition, it is that innocuous love for each other that pushes them to pursue a journey to the other side of the island. When Malu’s mother decides to emigrate, the kids realize they have to stop it as it will separate them forever.

Karthick: Nostalgic. A very touching scene when the kids sit at the roof top and plan about what is to be done!! Kids they are, yet, the dialogues are so romantic and moving.

What shall we do?

Shekar: True, the entire film is so beautifully woven with such simple yet powerful scenes. There is another scene where Jorgito beats the guy who calls, Malu’s mother a slut. And as a punishment he is asked to write imposition. As he continues to write, a paper rockets comes flying to him with imposition written. Jorgito moves to the balcony to see who has sent it.

Looking at Malu, writing and sending it for him, he feels so good and kind of proud of his love as well.

Karthick: Yep! Yet another scene is when Jorgito is taking bath for a long time and he questions his mother, when can he grow up to get married?

Harish: To give a little bit of background, Malu’s mother has to get a form signed by her husband to emigrate out of the country. He works in an isolated light house in another end of the island. The only way the kids can stop the emigration is to some how reach Malu’s father and request him not to sign so.

Shekar: The scenes which show the kids preparing for the cross country journey are crafted in such a way that the differences in their societal classes are clearly shown. As the kids together, the difference in idealogies are also brought out together when the kids take rest in the beach at night. As Jorgito comes from a socialistic background, he looks at stars as balls of fire but, Malu sees them as spirits and she could even point out her dead grand ma over there!!

Karthick: Yep. As the kids keep going on to reach out to Malu’s father, they beg, borrow, steal, they quarrel, insult each other yet at the same time, realize that they have only got each other for their support.

Harish: Kind of looks like a political situation as well!!

Shekar: Ha ha! Yes! Indeed, yet there is a subtle love underpinning the relationship on the whole.

Karthick: Yep! If at all any scene clearly brings that out, it is the final scene when the parents of the kids reach the light house tracking them after their disappearence and when they see the kids, they start beating them and fighting with each other. The kids realize that the letters have been signed and they will be separated. They run away to a far away isolated place, hug each other so close to bid farewell. So moving!

Adios Amigo

Shekar: Yep, the BGM is also very finely tuned and stands to add life to the entire film. What we think as childishness proves to be profounder than the so called mature decisions of the adults.

Harish: True. A must watch for like minded individuals. Surreal at points, yet, drives home the finer message!

Shekar: There is a Tamil movie called “Kannathil Muthamittal” by Mani Ratnam which also brought out a child’s suffering of separation from her mother due to various social and political factors.

Karthick: True. Hope we get to watch such movies honestly made with no pandering to masses.

Shekar: Long Live Good films!

Harish: Catch you all again for another movie review.