This February will be memorable for all sorts of reasons, not least the opportunity to see this award-winning 1994 film, which became the first Cuban film to be nominated for an Oscar.
Set in 1979, Strawberry and Chocolate tells the story of the friendship between university student David (Vladimir Cruz) with Diego (Jorge Perugorría), a gay artist who is kicking against the Castro regime’s censorship of the arts and its treatment of the LGBT community. David is initially encouraged to cultivate the friendship by his pal Miguel (Francisco Gattorno), who wants him to spy on Diego and keep the authorities informed of his activities.
David initially goes along with this, but as he gets closer to Diego, he refuses to spy any more, whilst Diego helps him to lose his virginity to his neighbour Nancy, who has become fond of David after her attempted suicide had been prevented by Diego and her life saved by David’s donation of blood.
However, a crisis develops with the authorities over an exhibition of his lover German’s work and Diego decides that he must leave the country. Ultimately, though, he cannot leave without saying goodbye to David. As they bid farewell, Diego confesses his love for David and admits that he failed to deny rumours of David’s homosexuality, which had led to him being falsely outed by Miguel. Despite the admission, David embraces Diego, leaving the audience wondering about what might happen in future.
It was written by the acclaimed Cuban writer Senel Paz and adapted from his acclaimed 1990 short story "The Wolf, The Forest and the New Man".
We enjoyed the film enormously. It is beautifully written, acted and filmed, and Diego’s story in particular will strike a chord with many gay people, especially those growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. David’s journey, though apparently incomplete by the end of the film, leads him from the intellectual prison of the communist orthodoxy into a wider conception of life – as one critic suggested, the film is about the seduction of the mind rather than the body.
It was a great evening – and thanks must go to Eastbourne Trades Council for sponsoring the showing as part of LGBT history month as well as to the team at the Grove Theatre in Eastbourne for proving to be such welcoming hosts for the event.