Arcoiris a Cuba

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Note of intent

From La Havana to Santa Clara or Trinidad, men and women tell their story in an intimate and personal way. Childhood memories, first sexual experiences, guilty pleasures, shame and harsh social life in Cuba : these unique stories reveal themselves in all simplicity and sincerity before our camera. In a country like Cuba where all contradictions clash, where centuries of Spanish colonialism, impregnated by the Catholic Church, glorify the traditional heterosexual family, where attitudes perpetuated homophobic behaviors towards the gays, we ask ourselves :  what defines masculinity and femininity in this country ?
So we look for answers along with Ignacio, Wendy, Marilyn, Helena, Ricardo.  Men or women, young or old, introverted or extroverted, all homosexuals or transsexuals,  they all recall childhood memories, dramatic experiences, explain how they lived their differences, peak about the opposite sex. All these characters invite us to the very heart of Cuban life , leaving aside all the usual taboos. After spending one hour in intimate conversations, wandering through the streets, houses, beauty parlors, taxis, discovering archival footage, the prejudices and clichés seem outdated.  We come out of this Cuban chronicle enlighten by these personal paths, often funny ones, sometimes violent but always deeply moving. The film offers a multiplicity of points of view which echoes with universal connotations on commitment and courage. It also provides an insightful look and criticism on the present time in Cuba and reveals the impact of this sexual revolution.  This film gives us a fascinating look at our time and helps us understand all the social  and human Cuban dimension.

Synopsis

Mariela Castro is a real personality in Cuba. Daughter of President Raúl Castro, she is the Director of the National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX) and also advocates for the rights of homosexuals and transsexuals. Today, Mariella is doing to change mentalities and establishes laws. In Havana, the power allows even a “Love Parade” called “Conga” where dozens of people protest for more democracy, timidly. Another revolution has finally reached the island of Cuba. Changes occurred in 1993 when Tomas Guiterrez Alea realized” Fresa y chocolate” the first Cuban film which opened discussions on the topic of homosexuality. What is less known, is that it had a great popular success on the island. So, with this theme, our documentary will be extremely controversial: supporters of the Cuban revolution will see an evidence of the tolerance of the system. But the testimony of Cuban artists and intellectuals, denouncing the repression against homosexuals in the years 1960 and 1970, will give a strong counterpoint to this story. With all witnesses of the film and surprising sequences, sometimes, our documentary looks like a light comedy with serious social issues.The film will bring a special focus on the subject and the director Jean-Baptiste Erreca, will  give a sensitive and joyful view about homosexuality in Cuba.
Movies:
– Fresa y Chocolate Tomas Gutierrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío
– The Mariel boatlift
– The UMAPS in the 60s and 70s

Visual concept

Is by the operator of photography of “Fresa y chocolate”, Ernesto Granado, that film’s producer has discovered how is living the homosexuality in Cuba. Ernesto will be the operator of photography of our film. In this documentary, we want a very cinematic writing, with cinematic tecnics and very strong  and different stories: that is why , the views of Mariella Castro and Jorge Perugorría, the actor of “Fresa y chocolate” are important. They allow us to understand the real situation about the tema of our film. It is why, show the work of Mariella Castro at the CENESEX is essential to understand the developments since 1959 until today. But we need the counterpoint provided by Jorge Perugorría. Many archives including the feature film “Fresa y chocolate” will bring breaths between testimonies. Cuban life, sequences with our witnesses will be filmed with slow movements of traveling and  crane.