Review of East of Havana (2006) by Marian D — 01 Sep 2008

I was so proud of these kids. Here's the cast: Michel "Mikki Flow" Hermida, Magyori Martinez Veitia, and Soandres "Soandry" Del Rio Ferrer and Vladimir Ferrer (in the US) and their mother, Norma Despaigne.

(Mrs. Despaigne passed away as the film was being made or released.) This flick is a New York Times Pick, produced by South African-born actress Charlize Theron. The kids' rap is mainly about being Black & female or Black & male in Cuba.

(All of which means poor yet not as 'excluded poor' as during Black enslavement in Cuba and life before the Revolution, while at the same time the Cuban Revolution has left serious contradictions.

) From the NY Times review: "East of Havana" is the real deal. Directed by Jauretsi Saizarbitoria and Emilia Menocal, it's a nonfiction feature about young Cuban rappers exercising the artist's prerogative to tell the truth in a country that muzzles free speech.

Although the film is set in 2004 during the weeklong run-up to the International Festival of Rap Cubano and in the shadow of Hurricane Charley, there's no phony urgency. The filmmakers are mainly interested in hearing the music and learning about the musicians' compelling personal stories.

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