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Community August 22, 2007
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Family-friendly filmfrom Cuba at library
JULIE CHAUTIN Contributing Writer

Courtesy of Film Movement
MURPHY - There are many stories about those who want to leave Cuba. The next movie at the Murphy Library is about a girl who wants to stay. Viva Cuba is a family-friendly movie from the Film Movement people that is an easy way to introduce children to Spanish. A boy and girl take a road trip from one coast of Cuba to the other where her father lives. The filmwill be shown on Thursday at 6 p.m. and is not rated but the characters are around 12 years old. It will be in Spanish with subtitles in English.

In a twist on Romeo and Juliet, Jorgito and Malu live across the street from one another in Havana. They are great friends but Malu's single mother is from the old aristocracy of Cuba and she does not want Malu associating with Jorgito, the son of a lower class couple who have benefitedfrom the country's Socialism.

Nevertheless, Malu loves to play with Jorgito in the backstreets of the city, taunts him on their walks to school, and even teases him in dance class. The only other person she loves as much is her aging grandmother.

Courtesy of Film Movement
But when the grandmother dies, Malu's mother decides to leave Cuba with Malu. She has a foreign boyfriend who wants to marry her and live together in his country.

Malu is horrified at the thought of abandoning Cuba. While still dealing with the loss of her grandmother, she realizes she will also lose Jorgito. Her mother is adamant. She has become frustrated with the daily difficulties of living in Cuba and plans to write her ex-husband for his permission to emigrate with his daughter.

When Jorgito hears of this, he suggests a plan. He and Malu travel to the town where her father lives and ask him not to give his permission. The next morning, instead of walking to school, the children walk to the train station and are off on an adventure across their islandcountry.

Director Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti was no stranger to working with young people. In his first job he acted in, wrote, and directed an award-winning television series for children in Cuba. And the beautiful cinematography in Viva Cuba is a stark reminder of how breathtaking the country is. Perhaps Malberti was more aware of its splendor after spending time away teaching in Argentina.

His filmis enjoyable for children and for adults and for anyone who wondered what life was like 90 miles from the tip of Florida. The children ride in antique cars in Havana, oxcarts in the countryside, and motorcycles with sidecars. They lunch on sandy beaches and walk through dark forests. They even see shooting stars at night over the ocean.

Call the library at 837-2417 for details. In Spanish with English subtitles. The library has a one-time public performance license from Film Movement to show this film.

Jorgito (Milo Avila) and Malu (Tarrau Broche) star in Viva Cuba, the next indie filmthis Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Murphy Library. Two children on a dazzling road trip through Cuba show us what life is like 90 miles from the tip of Florida. There is no charge for this family-friendly movie that adults will enjoy too. In Spanish with English subtitles. Call 837-2417 for details.

The Murphy Library's independent movie this Thursday comes from Cuba. Malu (Tarrau Broche) and Jorgito (Milo Avila), shown here hitching a ride with a spelunker (Pavel Garcia Valdes), star in a roadtrip movie that spotlights beaches, starry nights, and rain forests.
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