Although the film fails to reveal anything new about the country’s current crisis or the Cuban diaspora, it’s a bittersweet tribute to what could have been.
The Sugar Curtain (2007)
Runtime: 90 mins
Synopsis: THE SUGAR CURTAIN, written and directed by Camila Guzman Urzua, is a documentary that hauntingly captures present-day Cuba. Through interviews with childhood friends who have remained on the turbulent island, Urzua sets out to compare it to the "paradise" she grew up in--the country's... THE SUGAR CURTAIN, written and directed by Camila Guzman Urzua, is a documentary that hauntingly captures present-day Cuba. Through interviews with childhood friends who have remained on the turbulent island, Urzua sets out to compare it to the "paradise" she grew up in--the country's prosperous era during the 1970s and 80s. During a time when Cuba boasted a nearly 100 percent literacy rate, Urzua and her schoolmates were provided free education, as well as acceptable dwellings and plenty of supplies and resources, as the country's stability was due to the economic support of other communist regions. But three decades later, the Cuba that once was, that remains in Urzua's memory, is no more. Her friends and family who have remained there reflect on the country they have so much loyalty toward, and have learned to embrace the struggles that now plague the once thriving and hopeful nation. This documentary is a must-see for history buffs who can't get enough about the significance of Cuba's impact, not only on its people, but also globally. Urzua, daughter of well-known Latin American filmmaker Patrizio Guzman (SALVADOR ALLENDE, MADRID), is an exquisite documentary filmmaker, demonstrating her talent with the mesmerizing shots that linger on the dilapidated scenery, and focusing intently on the faces of her interviewees--not only presenting a portrait of history but also illustrating a fierce passion for a nation that continues to try to find its place in the world. [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Screenwriter: Camila Guzmán Urzúa
Producer: Camila Guzmán Urzúa, Nathalie Trafford
Composer: Omar Sosa
Reviews
The filmmaker's bittersweet reflections on her own former idealism form the philosophical heart of the film, which is less judgmental than simply sorrowful in its nostalgia for a lost society.
For those who’ve never seen Cuba up close, The Sugar Curtain offers an astonishing glimpse of the culture, one that’s devoid of both the glamor and the manipulations of mainstream media.
The Sugar Curtain is a pensive valentine to literacy programs and childhood idealism left in the ashes of broken families and an economically bifurcated society.
Urzua's unsentimental story of shattered idealism is specific to Cuba, but anyone whose path to adulthood was paved with disillusionment -- whether they were betrayed by faith, family or institutions -- will understand her melancholy nostalgia.
After 40 minutes of schoolgirl and schoolboy reminiscences, and the filmmaker's attempts to filter history through nostalgia, the documentary is about as appealing as a home movie.
In its poignant depiction of a Cuban generation convinced that their roles as creators of a brighter tomorrow can only be fulfilled elsewhere, the director's personal investigation into her past forcefully conveys a sense of national betrayal.
The even-handed film is sympathetic to the Cuban revolution in its initial stages, then slowly swings around to reveal the 'skeleton of a dream' that the society has become.
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