Two Homelands. Cuba and the Night

Turin
Two Homelands. Cuba and the Night
Dos Patrias. Cuba y la Noche (Documentary -- Germany)
By JAY WEISSBERG
A Christian Liffers production. Produced, directed, written by Liffers.

Life for gay men in Cuba is explored via six protags in novice helmer
Christian Liffers' handsome "Two Homelands. Cuba and the Night." Nicely
structured without being rigidly tied down, docu steers clear of
colonialist patronizing or prurient exploitation, aiming instead for a
more nuanced view of the Cuban character and gay life under Castro's
homophobic rule. Respectful p.o.v. may leave those with pre-set notions
wanting more, but Liffers doesn't go for polemics. A busy fest schedule
could lead to arthouse play targeting the pink dollar.

Each of the six men profiled is introduced reading passages from
Reinaldo Arenas, who acts as an invisible guide to the Cuban mentality
and a tragic godfather of gay sensibilities. Liffers chooses his protags
carefully, each representing a different social class or aspect of the
scene -- intellectual, drag queen, artist, transsexual. Only one, Tomas,
knew Arenas personally, but all are presented as heirs to the poet's
yearnings for a specifically Cuban openness and sense of personal freedom.

Filming was done below official radar, at homes, illegal gay parties
and, of course, the Malecon, Havana's main outdoor salon comprising both
a rendezvous point and street theater. All the men speak of the
frustration of not having official venues to meet others, yet only the
flamboyant Alexey wants to leave the country.

Everyone steers clear of the often abusive police, though Tomas offers a
hesitant note of optimism when he talks of small improvements.

"For us gays in the tropics, loneliness is something horrible," comments
Tomas, though it's not clear why equatorial geography makes loneliness
more difficult. The most marginalized figure, gorgeous black transsexual
Isabel, is also the most affecting, her palpable sense of difference
escaping through the swaggering, flirtatious stance she maintains on the
Malecon.

Docu's one major oversight is the absence of any real discussion of
prostitution and sex tourism in particular. However, Liffers is guided
into some of the mysteries of Santeria by devotee Tomas, who explains
the accepted, and respected, role gay men play in the religion's
pantheon of deities.

Music's all-important place in Cuban life is celebrated through the
pic's structure, each protag bookmarked by street musician Michael
Espinosa Rodriguez's songs on acoustic guitar, the lyrics beautifully
tied in with the different characters.

Digital quality is flawless, and visuals are first rate considering the
minuscule budget and the difficulties of an unauthorized shoot.

Camera (color, DigiBeta), Mirko Schernickau; editor, Todd P. Mercuri;
music, Michael Espinosa Rodriguez, Los Transes; music supervisor, Marco
Flick; sound, Marcus Pfeiffer; sound designer, Holger Jung. Reviewed at
Turin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (competing), April 24, 2007. (Also in
Miami Film Festival.) Running time: 82 MIN.
(Spanish dialogue)

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933627.html?categoryid=31&cs=1