After over 600 people attended the recent Phantom of the Opera screening, Tampa Theatre is presenting another cultural delight. Together with ARTE (Tampa Bay’s Festival of the Americas), the venue is hosting Viva Cuba.
Next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the Cuban comedy by Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti will bring another diverse production to town. The 80 minute production is a prime example of current Cuban independent Cinema and earned the director Cannes 2005 Best Children’s Film award.
“In keeping with the focus of ARTE and the strong Cuban connections in our community, I wanted to show a Cuban film,” said Tara Schroeder, programming director. “Viva Cuba is a sweet coming-of-age story that features beautiful scenes of Havana and the Cuban countryside.”
The film itself deals with the common plot of economical differences, in this case, protective parents who do not want their children to mingle outside their social class. Part road trip, part love story, this Shakespearean theme affects the friendship between Malu, a child of a well-off Cuban family and Jorgito, the offspring of an impecunious and socialist family. One might complain that such a blueprint of storytelling has existed since medieval times. While this film may not reinvent the wheel, it is a common practice in art to emulate ideas in order to advance them.
Viva Cuba allows American audiences to witness a country that they will most likely never travel to. As such, the story is not only geared towards children, but can be equally enjoyed by grown ups with an appreciation for foreign culture. This kind of opportunity adds to the beauty of this picture and motion pictures in general.
While Viva Cuba hasn’t seen the interior of the Motion Picture Association of America (since it is not rated), the picture is most likely suitable for all audiences. Ticket prices are $9 for adults and $7 for children age two through 12, military ID holders and Tampa theatre members and is free for children under two years.
JP Busche can be reached at jbusche@spartans.ut.edu.