Una perla de la revolución

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Summary

Cuba is a country where almost everything is regulated and controlled by the government and the communist party. This 15-minute short-form documentary explores how the residents of the small coasta...

Cuba is a country where almost everything is regulated and controlled by the government and the communist party. This 15-minute short-form documentary explores how the residents of the small coastal Havana suburb Cojimar organize the clean-up of their polluted bay with the help of private local businesses generating tourism money. I conceptualized, recorded and edited the film. My wife and collaborator, Claudia Trujillo, helped with logistics and translations. Largo Film Awards calls the film 'a very interesting and engaging documentary: The film provides an upbeat look at how a community comes together and works as a unit to improve on itself for future generations as well as those that currently reside there. The film shows the positivity and strength of the community whilst also providing some stunning cinematography that highlights the natural beauty of the location. One unique aspect of this film is that it investigates positive structural change on the island through community-funded grassroots initiatives. As normal as this may sound for countries such as Germany, the US or Colombia, this is rather uncommon in Cuba. The film was shot over two years, and as a one or two-person film crew working with semi-professional equipment, I could fly under the radar without being questioned by state authorities and officials.

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