Cuba Project
Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies
The Graduate Center-CUNY
Films from and about
Cuba’s ‘Special Period’
Professor Jerry Carlson, curator
The Graduate Center-CUNY
March 12-15
Havana: The New Art of Making Ruins
By Florian Borchmeyer and Matthias Hentschler, 86 minutes
 Wednesday, March 12
3:00-4:50 p.m.: Segal Theatre
Tells the stories of people who are waiting every day to be buried by the buildings in which they live. They suffer from living in ruins but nonetheless refuse to move out. Anywhere else but in Cuba, these buildings would have long ago been renovated, torn down, or turned into museums. Through this, the film presents the ambivalent admixture of magic and destruction. At the same time it captures the final moments of these buildings before they’re renovated – or simply collapse altogether. Winner of Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Bavarian Films Awards, and many others.
Viva Cuba
By Juan Carlos Cremata, 80 minutes
 Saturday, March 15
9:00-10:40 a.m.: Elebash Recital Hall
Juan Carlos Cremata relates his road movie fairy tale with a disarming sincerity that is involving and engaging. Taking elements from the reality of daily life, he weaves a heartfelt fable of children, which gives it its great charm. Jorgito (age 12) and Malú (11) are neighbors, classmates and best friends. They argue and tease each other and pledge their mutual loyalty. Malú's mother, who is separated from her father, hates her life in Cuba. When she decides to marry a foreigner so she can leave the country, Malú, who loves her life as it is, is deeply upset and hopes that she can get to her father before he signs an agreement allowing her to emigrate. So the girl runs away from her home in Havana—with Jorgito as her traveling companion—in search of her father, who is a lighthouse keeper in the remotest tip of Eastern Cuba, hundreds of miles away. Thus begins their adventure, which will take them the length of the island by train, bus, car, motorcycle, oxcart and on foot. They see shooting stars and animals and encounter spirits. Friendly strangers, unusual characters and various guardian angels help them find their way. Cuba's candidate for the Oscars, Viva Cuba is a wonderful film for children, but it is not just a children's film. It is a film for any adult who could be illuminated by a glimpse into the emotions of a child, which is, of course, anyone and everyone. -Miguel Pendás. Winner of 34 awards, including Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival Official Selection, London Film Festival Official Selection.
The Sugar Curtain
By Camila Guzmán Urzúa, 80 minutes
 Saturday, March 15
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Elebash Recital Hall
The Sugar Curtain is a documentary which reflects on what has been the Cuban Revolution through the eyes of those that were born and bred within it. It is an intimate portrait of a generation that began their studies in primary school when the Cuban regime was in its best economic moment (in the mid 70’s), and still maintained the energy of the early days. The film recounts this generation’s childhood and explores what happened later, when the socialist regimes of Eastern Europe ceased to exist. It was in that moment that Cuba was left without allies, money or petroleum and the ideals of this generation were dismantled under the paralysis of the system. With clear and sensitive language, the film is a deep-rooted collective autobiography, from the intimacy of everyday life of this generation of Cubans. Winner of Havana Film Festival, Latin American Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, and others awards.
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Registration required. To register send email to cubaproject@gc.cuny.edu.
For more information, visit www.cubasymposium.org.
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