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presents
Cuba Diaries POV
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*********Cuba Dairies,
POV**********
In January, 1952
Ernesto "Che" Guevara began a motorcycle journey and
personal exploratory that originated in his native country
of Argentina, and which would ultimately manifest in Cuba
where he was an instrumental figure in the 1959 overthrow of
the puppet dictator Battista.
After the Revolution,
during a period of transition that saw the nationalization
of virtually all multi-national owned industries and
agricultural lands, "Che" held a number of senior positions
in the new Government, as a trusted ally of President Fidel
Castro.
The ensuing events
would change the political landscape of the globe forever,
factor materially in the assassinations of John F. Kennedy
and his brother Bobby, affect the outcome of all US
elections thereafter, and impact US - Soviet relations
during the remaining 30 years of the Cold War, until the
collapse of the USSR and the Berlin wall in 1989. |
Che's assassination in
Bolivia in 1967 during the hippie movement, Vietnam War,
protest era, and inner-city violence throughout America
elevated him to cult hero status, and today the iconic image
of "Che" seen on t-shirts through the world has had the
effect of making his the second most recognized countenance
on the planet!
Che's diaries have been
translated into many languages, and the Motorcycle Diaries
is one of the world's most widely read books. Many
films and documentaries have been made about "Che" including
Steven Soderbergh's two part epic "Che", which underscores
the popular wisdom that no-one gets two revolutions in a
lifetime, at least not successful ones!
The irony of Che's
enigmatic demise and failure to ignite the Bolivian
peasantry into their own revolution has engendered a
plethora of speculation as to whether or not it was a
harbinger of things to come, foretelling the ultimate
failure of the Cuban experiment in repelling multinational
encroachment and its ties to the military industrial complex
as so eloquently put by Dwight D Eisenhower upon his
departure from the office of the presidency in 1961. |
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Or alternatively that
martyrdom for the cause of collectivism and advancement of
the underclasses would not be in vain!
So much propaganda has
been churned out by the anti-Castro press, centred primarily
in Miami and Washington DC, that it is hard to determine
whether Michael Moore's "Sicko" was just a puff piece or had
basis in fact.
"Cuba Diaries, POV" is
a point of view reality documentary which features four
young explorers from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Quebec as
they seek to find the answer to the enigma that is Cuba.
Initially our latter
day itinerants are torn between the negativity and
fear-mongering of the right wing press in America, and the
romantic notion that there should and perhaps is a better
way of living in harmony on this planet. |
And while Michael Moore
barely skimmed the surface, Cuba Diaries, POV and its modern
day explorers delve deep into the fabric of Cuba, revealing
just what makes it so different from virtually all other
modern day societies.
They explore and
investigate why it was named by the World Wildlife
Federation as the ONLY nation boasting an economically
sustainable model, why it has one of the best medical
systems in the world, THE highest doctor-to-patient ratio of
all nations, one of the best education systems and highest
literacy rates, and is a top tier country in terms of life
expectancy.
All this and a populace
that despite having nothing (materially), and no prospect of
ever having anything in this regard is generally happy,
healthy, generous and sharing, is debt free, boasts an
infectious sense of humour, is politically aware, patriotic,
and enjoys a rich and ever evolving cultural and musical
heritage.
Best exemplified by the
harmonious coexistence of modern and traditional medicines,
and even voodoo and witchcraft, Cuba is a place where two
worlds don't collide; rather, they converge and merge.
Cuba Diaries, POV
introduces a new paradigm to the art of reality documentary
filmmaking, as the four multi-lingual cyclists are equipped
with the latest in head-cams, all synched to the chase
vehicle camera, which offers a "fifth eye" objectivity and
perspective. All as they delve into the sights, sounds
and rhythms that make up the mosaic of history, art, music,
culture, sport, and daily routines that defines Cuba.
Not intended in any way
to be a superficial account of the Cuban dream, Cuba
Diaries, POV may neutralize the anti-Castro American bias
but it will not shy away from or overlook the human cost of
revolution, the embargo, and the resulting suffering and
poverty that many Cubans suffer on a daily basis.
"Vive la Revolucion"
and "Patria o Muerte" slogans that are ever present reveal
their true meaning as our modern day romantics dig deep to
see what lies at the heart of this rebellious nation, what
is the secret to the magic of Cuba that has the whole world
watching in suspense, rooting for the underdog? |
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Read about The Royal
Theatre's History, Restoration and Renaissance.
CLICK HERE
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Check out this
Cuba Diaries POV video on YouTube.
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