Review of Blame It on Fidel! (2006) by Walter M — 08 Sep 2007

[font=Arial]I was reminded of an exercise in relgion class(Catholic division) where we were shown how much more could be accomplished in a unit with a single, strong leader...[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]In "Blame It on Fidel," it is 1970 and Fernando(Stefano Accorsi), a lawyer, is frustrated and wants to become more politically involved, despite already housing his sister, Marga(Mar Sodupe), and niece, Pilar(Raphaelle Molinier), two refugees from Franco's Spain. So, he and his wife, Marie(Julie Depardieu), a writer for Marie Claire magazine, depart for South America, leaving their young children, Anna(Nina Kervel-Bey) and Francois(Benjamin Feuillet), in the care of their housekeeper, Filmomena(Marie-Noelle Bordeaux), a refugee from Castro's Cuba. On their return, Fernando announces plans to help the elected president of Chile, Salvador Allende, from afar. But now the family has to give up their spacious house in return for a smaller apartment. And Anna is none too pleased to be sharing a room with her younger brother...[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Blame It on Fidel" is a uniquely charming coming of age story told from the vantage point of Anna who is certainly perplexed at the changes in the household which reflect the turbulent nature of the world she is growing up in. Naturally curious, she absorbs some of her knowledge through osmosis but also through direct interaction with her parents and their friends, thus proving that it is never a good idea to keep children ignorant. But the parents do seem a little doctrinaire at times.(For example, I would not say Mickey Mouse is fascist. Donald Duck, maybe.) Remember, Fernando and Marie's politics do not change, just their level of involvement. Throughout they believe in the power of democracy to better the world and for Salvador Allende, certainly no Communist, to be a fine instrument for progressive change in the world. [/font].