Baracoa. 500 years later
(Baracoa. 500 años después)
Mauricio Vicent / Cuba, Spain / 2010 / 61 min
Miami International Film Festival
Havana International Festival of New Latin American Cinema
Arizona International Film Festival
Valladolid International Film Festival
Pricing
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Spanish with English subtitles
With Claudia Cantillo, Pepe Legrá, Oscar Granada Ronquillo, Yendris Muguercia, Yordelki y Ramoncito Acosta Ruiz, Yulaimis Ruiz, Alejandro Hartmann, Rafael Cobás, Grupo Nengón y Kiribá, Padre Luigi Usubelli
Baracoa, the small town surrounded by mountains and rivers, is immersed in its own legend and in the work and dreams of its people. It prevails half a millennium from the day in which Christopher Columbus planted the “Parra” Cross on its shore. It was Cuba’s initial capital.
Baracoa knew of few splendorous years and as centuries passed, was kept isolated from the rest of the island. Baracoa is peculiar in its geography, its history, and the spirit of its current inhabitants. This film is about them.
While the town prepares to commemorate its 500th anniversary, a girl who celebrates her 15th birthday, a basketball trainer who prepares his team for a tournament in Havana, a radio announcer who encourages the people to strive, a mother who raises her children by herself, an ex-boxing champ, and other characters from Baracoa, weave a vital mosaic which is also a biography of the country.
Related Subjects
About the Director
Vicent is the author of the book of interviews Che´s Mates (Los compañeros del Che), in collaboration with photographer Francis Giacobetti. He also wrote the screenplay for the documentary Music to Live (Música para vivir), directed by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón (2008). Baracoa. 500 Years Later (Baracoa, 500 años después) is his directing debut.
Press
“This documentary describes an historic yet primitive village as perhaps a microcosm of the Cuban nation which is proud of its history, accustomed to a simple life, and at the same time hopeful to find a better future. The final scene culminates in a message of pride for the past and optimism for the future. This insightful documentary provides a realistic picture of the Cuban people living in the coastal area and should be recommended for university students interested in Cuban culture and history.” – Dana Ward, ANTHROPOLOGY REVIEW DATABASE
“There are no interviews in the documentary…characters simply live their lives in front of the camera…They weave a vital mosaic that is a biography of the island…They give a life lesson to those who believe that possessions are all that maters. The aim is to show how people live there, how is it possible to have a life where values are still important and be happy with so little…Baracoa. 500 Years Later is a tribute to those who think that is not happier the one who has more, but the one who loves what he/she has.” ” – Rocío García, EL PAÍS
“In sharing a rare glimpse of a simpler life in this natural paradise, this film provides a biography of Cuba as an island.” – ARIZONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL