A satire on life in Cuba during the ‘Special Period’ of the early 1990s, as well as an absurd comedy road trip from one end of the island to the other by the master of Cuban cinema.

Tuesday 18 March, 6.30pm Screen 1 at the ICA London

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Guantanamera | Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabío | Cuba, 1995, ICAIC | 1h31m | 15

A satire on life (and death) during the ‘Special Period’ of the early 1990s, with its material shortages and uncertainties, in Cuba following the demise of the Soviet Union. And also an entertaining comedy road movie. When Aunt Yoyita dies during a visit to Guantánamo, her body must be taken to Havana, at the other end of the island. Gina’s bureaucratic husband Adolfo takes charge of the logistics. On the road, they keep crossing paths with Mariano, a playboy trucker and Gina’s ex-student. Along the way Ikú the Santería god of death makes appearances. Before they reach Havana, Gina realizes a choice has to be made. This was the last film of Tomás Alea, Cuba’s most celebrated director, just before his death.

AWARDS Havana Festival: Grand Coral Award; Venice Film Festival: Nominated for the Golden Lion; Sundance Film Festival: Special Mention Cinema Latin America Award.

CAST Mirta Ibarra, Raul Eguren, Jorge Perugorria, Conchito Brando, Carlos Cruz, Pedro Fernandez, Suset Perez Malberti.

 

PLUS SHORT: Elpidio Valdés contra el tren militar / Elpidio Valdés versus the military train |Juan Padrón | 1974, Cuba, ICAIC | 8m | 18

Juan Padrón is the godfather of animation in Cuba and is revered across Latin America. Elpidio Valdés is a famous and much loved cartoon character in Cuban culture, who entertained generations of Cuban children as a symbol of rebellion against colonialism and imperialism. Elpidio joins the mambí liberation army (formed of former enslaved people and peasants) in 1895 at the beginning of the Cuban War of Independence. The cartoons always make fun of the colonial powers. This is one of two shorts recently restored by ICAIC with funding from Screen Cuba.