The Green Screen

I saw this documentary in the Spring and it's one of the best documentaries I've seen on Cuba. The filmmaker owns an Impala, so he started to make a documentary about old impalas around Havana while he was taking a Spanish course there. Sounds like a cliche, but it turns out to be one of the best docs I've seen about the situation in Cuba. The film succeeds to show:

- the austerity of Cuba
- resolve and ingenuity of Cubans
- sense of humor of Cubans
- accurately captures the sounds and feel of Centro & Habana Vieja
- Most importantly, shows clearly the oppression and lack of freedom of speech is such a straight forward way without being heavy-handed.

The film pretty much speaks for itself and it is a must see for people interested in Cuba. Don't know if this showing is open to the public. Send a mail to the link to find out. If not, look for it down the road wherever it plays.

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James HUTSONB.A. Student, Actor and Filmmaker - FHIS Department Presents "LET ME RIDE" FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

SYNOPSIS:Roberto, an Impala owner, retired seaman, supported by a $10 a month state disability pension, escorts documentary filmmaker James Hutson into the bowels of Havana's barrios. The gritty and compelling LET ME RIDE is ostensibly a portrait of a pre-revolution Chevy owner in Havana. However, Let Me Ride ultimately becomes an exposé of Cuban conduct and conformity under the Revolution. This multi-layered study of Cuban car ownership under the US trade "Blockade" demystifies Socialist Cuba, and provides us with a glimpse of how Canada has emerged as a maternal figure in Cuba's struggle against American trade policies. History of project:Let Me Ride was filmed with the guidance and support of UBC's Dr. Alejandra Bronfman (Doctorate in Cuban history from Princeton and author of Measures of Equality: Social Science, Citizenship and Race in Cuba 1902-1940) and Dr. Derek Carr for the translations. Wednesday 21 November3:00 pmBuTo 799 (Lounge)

where is the link?? and where is the film??

Post photo of Impala!

I tried several options on google and didn't come up with the film.

Perhaps it is not out there on internet yet, but eventually.
How did you hear about this film, Zelig? Once in awhile I see these things advertised up here at the Simon Fraser campus and it is just a localized sort of thing, not widely advertised.

Sounds like a good flick and I will watch for it.

When I was a youngster, my dad had a '62 white Chev Impala with yellow leather seats...soooo nice. If I had a scanner I would post a photo of it for you Davitz.

You are a dear one, Yanet and about the right age. My memories were of Impala ragtops: a '61, a '64 and a '67. I liked the '64 one best!

PS

I found nothing on YOUTUBE either.

Yanet,

He's a student from UBC that made the film. I took a 20th Century Cuban History course at UBC. The instructor (who gave him some guidance on the film)invited him to show the film the first class as an introduccion.

Last week was a seminar to discuss the film. Don't worry, I think it will surface more at other functions, maybe surface on a DVD. It's only 45 minutes, but it really is good.

Since SFU has a well developed Latin American Studies program, I'm quite sure you'll get a chance to see it up on the hill.



To the others,
Thanks for asking, but sorry their is no link. I just cutnpasted info from an email that was sent to me. Hopefully it makes on some latin film circuits, or HR festivals, because it would be a good entry.

This Cuban subject is old, tired, and depressing. The bowels of Havana need an enema of the state.

Interested in inventing? Americans had been selling places in line for $100 or more, at Best Buy and Circuit City for years on Black Friday. If you leave the suburbs, there is a lot of inventing going on in the city.

Nothing new, unusual, or unique about Cuba. Outsiders just get closer to it. Because it's safer to do so, in a state of unusual police presence.

I'd like to see a program of the 1st Black Friday in Cuba. Or the boom of Cyber Monday in Cuba. Then they won't have to pay me for digital cameras and jig saws, because the kleptocrats don't think those items are necessary at market prices.

I had a '70 Impala once for 45 days, until it was stolen from my driveway.

(Nov 19, 2007 07:29 PM)Zelig Wrote: [ -> ]I saw this documentary in the Spring and it's one of the best documentaries I've seen on Cuba. The filmmaker owns an Impala, so he started to make a documentary about old impalas around Havana while he was taking a Spanish course there. Sounds like a cliche, but it turns out to be one of the best docs I've seen about the situation in Cuba. The film succeeds to show:

- the austerity of Cuba
- resolve and ingenuity of Cubans
- sense of humor of Cubans
- accurately captures the sounds and feel of Centro & Habana Vieja
- Most importantly, shows clearly the oppression and lack of freedom of speech is such a straight forward way without being heavy-handed.

The film pretty much speaks for itself and it is a must see for people interested in Cuba. Don't know if this showing is open to the public. Send a mail to the link to find out. If not, look for it down the road wherever it plays.

----------------


James HUTSONB.A. Student, Actor and Filmmaker - FHIS Department Presents "LET ME RIDE" FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

SYNOPSIS:Roberto, an Impala owner, retired seaman, supported by a $10 a month state disability pension, escorts documentary filmmaker James Hutson into the bowels of Havana's barrios. The gritty and compelling LET ME RIDE is ostensibly a portrait of a pre-revolution Chevy owner in Havana. However, Let Me Ride ultimately becomes an exposé of Cuban conduct and conformity under the Revolution. This multi-layered study of Cuban car ownership under the US trade "Blockade" demystifies Socialist Cuba, and provides us with a glimpse of how Canada has emerged as a maternal figure in Cuba's struggle against American trade policies. History of project:Let Me Ride was filmed with the guidance and support of UBC's Dr. Alejandra Bronfman (Doctorate in Cuban history from Princeton and author of Measures of Equality: Social Science, Citizenship and Race in Cuba 1902-1940) and Dr. Derek Carr for the translations. Wednesday 21 November3:00 pmBuTo 799 (Lounge)

Was this the documentary that Neill Macaulay was providing information on when he died? He died 10/28/2007. He fought in the cuban revolution and wrote several books reguarding it. One was "An American Rebel in Cuba". We have many photographs of Neill and Castro as well as Che. After the revolution he became disillusioned with Castro and left the country. He was there to help the cuban people be free of Baptista but ended up realizing Castro was going down a corrupted path to communization. Neil went there for the right reasons, just as the few others had. Castro started out to save the people but I guess he became consumed by the power. Looking at Cuba today is like looking back in time to the 50's. Time has stood still. I feel sorry for the Cuban people who never experienced progress. I think of Cuba as the land that time forgot. A Macaulay Relative