On this trip, my second to Cuba i went with a specific purpose to live with the people & to make 2 short films - one about the Old 1950's Cars there, which are about the most colorful thing in Havana, other than the Habaneros, and to see how 50 years later after Fidel's victory, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara lives on in the streets of Havana.My previous visit 10 years ago was very different, still exciting in a different way, i hung out with a bunch of probable ex mercenary military high flying types, smoking cigars and doing the tourista thing in the Habana Libre Hotel.
In Cuba everything changes and nothing changes, you can still meet some interesting international types trading with the enemy as the USA would call it. This time i wanted to live with the enemy and get a feel for life with them on the inside, outside of central Havana in a regular suburb without tourists.
What you don't see from the lobby of the Hotel National or any of the other big hotels there is that for the people of Cuba basically La Revolucion = Hardship.
In Revolutionary terms, after victory over the oppressor and its regime comes freedom for the worker - which in this case was in over throwing Batista's US backed government & the Mafia in down town Havana. Well that was the way it began. 50 years on and the wheels of Revolution still turn albeit without the lubrication of oil metaphorically speaking.And since the demise of the Soviet experiment called Communism those wheels turn even slower.
I do think after Fidel does finally exit stage left, and Obama possibly opts for direct talks with Raul there will be a change in US Cuban relations, which will lead to perhaps the biggest revolution Cuba has known since 1959.
Because things do have to change to relive the common hardship there.
In the mean time...
Somehow the people get by, in spite of the privations of the blockage, although i think that is not the main reason for all the hardship. The Cubans are an amazing resilient resourceful people.I don't think the world fully appreciate this, unless you visit. Castro, The Buena Vista Social Club aside, their sports heros, cigars, rum & baseball,old 50's cars, very beautiful women, Ernest Hemingway & Che on t-shirts is how most of the world see Cuba.
I guess my 2 films add to that perception a little. Although with the homage to 'Che' i wanted to show that his spirit is alive on the streets and not just that famous enigmatic Korda image on t- shirts.
I am particularly inspired by Ernesto Guevara's story for many reasons. I have to do some more thinking about this Cuban mission & particularly about Che. Will report part 2 soon.
hasta luego -
