The ultimate aim is not merely an interpretive analysis of the themes and subthemes in strawberry and chocolate, but an interpretation that is also political. This oscar nominated film is the story of two men who are opposites, one gay. It is more interested in politics than sex unless you count sexual politics, since to be homosexual in cuba is to make an antiauthoritarian statement whether you intend it or not. But you never see anything like this made for tv, where the lighting is so careful, the. At the time, strawberry and chocolate was notable for being the first cuban film. While the central story may lack edge, strawberry and chocolate remains an entertaining, thoughtful take on the absurdity of confusing sexuality and politics. Set in 1979, the film depicts the journeys of diego and david, two very different individuals, but each a revolutionary in his own right, on their path of revolution. Strawberry and chocolate movingly depicts the budding relationship between two men against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in cuban. Filled with malicious swipes against the castro regime, its a provocative but very humane comedy about sexual.
The film fresa y chocolate opened in cuba in the year 1993 and within the space of a few months became one of the biggest boxoffice successes for tomas gutierrez alea, one of latin americas celebrated and cubas most revered filmmakers. Fresa y chocolate is an internationally coproduced film, directed by tomas gutierrez alea and juan carlos tabio, based. Juan carlos tabio, who, like alea, makes films that serve as a prod to the social conscience of cuba, codirected. I knew he was homosexual, the young man explains to his friend, because they had chocolate ice cream, and yet he ordered strawberry. It is something that is easy to forget as tv takes over everything on a smaller scale and cinema is seen as the place for fantastic, flashy stuff. Story is all about vanilla and tejus bond but still the chemistry seems quite less. Tomas gutierrez aleas memories of underdevelopment derek malcolm thu 10 feb 2000 07.
Watching his funny and likeable havanaset comedy is like chancing upon some undiscovered early gem by godard or woody allen, and yet it has a worldliness and drollery that is all its own. Strawberry and chocolate, the first cuban film with an openly gay main character, was a major boxoffice success in cuba, the united states and other countries. Notes on the cuban movie fresa y chocolate strawberry. The film fresa y chocolate is a film that attempts to show us how through time, people can become accepting of these differences. This oscar nominated film is the story of two men who are opposites, one gay, the other straight, one a fierce communist, the other a fierce individualist, one suspicious. Film analysis of strawberry and chocolate 27 words. However, it is cuban society itself that is ultimately being seduced in this remarkable statesponsored film. First come rejection and suspicion, but also fascination. Despite some choppy editing and some scenes that were a little inconclusive, the film overall is a strong commentary on the flaws of the cuban revolution, and may even try to function as a constructive criticism for any future attempts of the leftist movement. Fresa y chocolate is the story of a great friendship, that is, a great love between two men. The construct of a true revolutionary in fresa y chocolate. Strawberry and chocolate notes and blog question popular. Strawberry and chocolate isnt simple moralising though, but a profound look at castros cuba as shown through a moving, if unlikely friendship. More successful, or at least better known, was his second film adorables mentiras adorable lies, directed by rolando rojas, which among other characters included nancy, the former prostitute who reappears in fresa y chocolate.
Diego initially lures david to the apartment with a. At the time, strawberry and chocolate was notable for being the first cuban film with an overtly gay character, but the ideas it raises about. Strawberry and chocolate fresa y chocolate 1994 rotten. Tomas gutierrez alea, cuban film maker, 69 the new york.
This oscar nominated film is the story of two men who are opposites, one gay, the other straight, one a fierce communist, the other a fierce individualist, one. A young college kid meets a writer and a passionate woman who. Strawberry and chocolate was a rather engaging film. Strawberry and chocolate is not a movie about the seduction of a body, but about the seduction of a mind. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies.
Made in 1993, strawberry and chocolate was the last film directed by tomas gutierrez alea, who was dying of cancer. Diego, a cultivated, homosexual and skeptical young man, falls in love with a young heterosexual communist full of prejudices and doctrinary ideas. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing strawberry and chocolate near you. On a sunny day in 1979 a young gay man, diego, zeros in on david, a university student, sitting alone in a havana outdoor cafe, eating chocolate ice cream. Strawberry and chocolate fresa y chocolate critics consensus. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Strawberry and chocolate 1993 this oscar nominated film is the story of two men who are opposites, one gay, the other straight, one a fierce communist, the other a fierce individualist, one suspicious, the other accepting, and how they come to love each other. Strawberry and chocolate images strawberry and chocolate summary strawberry and chocolate cake strawberry and chocolate strawberry and chocolate 1994 strawberry and chocolate film strawberry and. Strawberry and chocolate 1994 stream and watch online. The story is set in 1979, a year before the upheaval of the mariel boatlift. Fresa y chocolate takes up the controversy of determining the role of the intellectual in the cuban revolution during the seventies and eighties. Overall the movie is fine and can be enjoyed more by animal lovers.
Strawberry and chocolate serves as a reminder of how important images are in film perhaps the key element. Diego, a cultivated, homosexual and skeptical young man, falls in love with a young heterosexual communist full of prejudices and doctrinal ideas. Fresa y chocolate is a comingofage story, told through the development of a great friendship which overcomes incomprehension and intolerance. The crisis of identity in postrevolutionary cuban film. Strawberry and chocolate movingly depicts the budding relationship between two men.
Tomas gutierrez aleas film strawberry and chocolate is set in 1979 havana. Strawberry and chocolate will be shown at the new york film festival tonight at 6 and tomorrow afternoon at 1. Fresa y chocolate strawberry and chocolate variety. Fresa y chocolate strawberry and chocolate this new comedy from cuba is a gem.
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