Week Six: Soy Cuba

Although the film Soy Cuba presents a detailed showing of the events of the Cuban Revolution, it does not delve quite deeply enough into the economic and social factors, among others, that were the initial cause of the revolution. Cuba, like many other Latin American countries, were experiencing an uprising from many of the lower classes. However, unlike any other country in Latin America, Cuba experienced the only socialist revolution, as explained in Susan Eckstein’s “The Impact of the Cuban Revolution: A Comparative Perspective.” The sluggish economy is also one of the important causes that sparked the revolution, as it created a deep rift between social classes. Soy Cuba portrays the struggles of a lower class citizen, as in the nightclub dancer, however it does not do a satisfactory job in showing how many different people all came together to fight for a new form of government.

            In John Chasteen’s book, Born in Blood & Fire, he shows the impact that a nationalist mindset had as a precursor to the revolution. An almost hatred for the United States and the ways of life of its citizens helped to fuel this governmental change in many Latin American countries. The view of this large, overbearing, and power-hungry nation became a wish for a complete turnaround in the governance of these countries. Many went to the extremes, but none like Cuba with its support of Fidel Castro. It is also surprising that the film did not show what an influence that Castro himself had in the revolution. He obviously held a significant amount of power and control over the revolutionaries, but we do not see him, only his protestors in Soy Cuba.

            Although the film ends before any real effects from the revolution can be seen, it is very important to note how initially successful it seemed to have been. A surging growth in economy and more benefits for the lower classes were seen as great successes. Chasteen also points out that not all was well after a revolution, not only in Cuba but consistently throughout Latin America, not everyone was happy with the results. The middle class families took some economic hits as the lower classes moved up the social ladder. He also emphasizes the importance of a new Marxist mindset that was sweeping Cuba during the time of the revolution. This became a perfect entryway for Fidel Castro to capture the attention of the restless groups looking for a change. As one can see, there are many social, political, cultural, and economic factors that one has to consider when discussing the revolutionary time in Cuba, including before, during and after. Soy Cuba, although depicting as many aspects of the revolution as possible for a film made to entertain, does not afford a clear picture of the true precursors of the Cuban Revolution. One must realize that there are so many factors that must happen at exactly the right time for a governmental change so dramatic as that of Cuba.

Week Five: Que Viva México!

In the Russian film “Que Viva México!” the viewer gets an interesting look at the somewhat extreme changes in the lifestyle of the people of Mexico before the Mexican Revolution. This country was not very well known in Europe or Asia at this time, perhaps that is why the film covers many different topics and is quite dramatic at some points. This would give other parts of the world a glimpse into what it would be like to live in this corner of the world, which some seemed to think was backward compared to their ways of life. Although this film may not help to cast the Mexicans in a more civilized light, showing customs and traditions that had been long outdated in other countries. This, however, seems to be the thing that fascinated the filmmaker, Sergei Einstein, the most. His unconventional approach to this film shows the important connections that he wanted to make with his viewers. By not making a film completely with actors and using some documentary type film footage, the film immediately takes on a more serious tone.

One can first comment on the style of production of the film, noting that it is part documentary and part a movie for a general audience. The beginning of the film shows the ancient architecture of Mexico, with barely any people, showing the almost prehistoric side of this country. The next part shows how very simple life used to be for the everyday person. The girl’s biggest worry is to get enough gold coins on her necklace for her dowry. Scenes like the former and the parade celebration clash with the unfinished end of the movie, that focuses more on the Revolution. Einstein makes these very opposing comparisons, like when he first shows the large plants that the men collect the pulp from. This is an everyday and almost completely harmless job for these people. The next time we see these large plants, it is in the middle of a shootout as the Revolution begins. Einstein is showing the audience how quickly the lives of the people in Mexico had changed from peaceful to disastrous.

Continuing with the theme of a change in lifestyle, the director also shows the difficulties of everyday life for Mexicans, especially in the lower classes. A man who is trying to marry his lover has her taken away by a man who is obviously of a higher class. This unfortunate man can do nothing to the man because of his social status. This also is only a few scenes before the start of the fighting, setting a dark mood. The fact that the movie was still produce so many years after it was shot and without an ending shows just how important the filmmakers believed this work was. It commented on many of the struggles of the Mexicans before and during their Revolution, educating people who knew very little about this country.

Week Four: Gabriela

After reading Sueann Caulfield’s article, “Getting into Trouble: Dishonest Women, Modern Girls, and women-Men in the Conceptual Language of “Vida Policial,” it is easy to see how the title character in the movie Gabriela was treated so harshly. It was apparently customary to completely disregard the comfort and wishes of one’s wife during this time period. Gabriela’s husband knew exactly the type of woman that he was marrying, even going so far as to forge her papers. It seems unfair for Nacib to expect her to completely change her customs for him. However, as the article shows, men had complete control over their wives, expect them to sit along side them and perform their womanly duties. Anything a wife may wish to do beyond what is expected of them is an embarrassment to the husband, who is looked upon to have complete discipline over his wife.

            Women do not have free will, which most likely drives many of them to commit infidelities, like Gabriela, as this gives them a little control over their own lives. Cheating, however, is seen as the most extreme embarrassment for the husband and they are encouraged to treat the guilty very harshly. Women in this time are also expected to essentially stay out of sight. We see how Nacib reacts in anger when Gabriela comes to his bar, even though she is doing a proper activity for a woman in bringing him lunch. This incident also shows us how Nacib considers Gabriela his property by getting angry with her flirting at the bar even though they are not married. This seems to be the sole reason that he chooses to marry her, after which he immediately forces her into a role that she does not like.

            Nacib forces Gabriela to attend things like the poetry reading when she would much rather watch her friend in the circus. Women like Gabriela, who were considered of the lower class, were seen as a corruption to the upper class society. Nacib treats Gabriela very differently alone than he does in public. Being ashamed of who she really is, she is forced to wear uncomfortable clothes and hide the fact that she is illiterate. Caulfield points out that the police magazine often categorizes maids in with prostitutes, which seems to be a general feeling at this time. Although it is apparent to the viewer that Nacib did love Gabriela, he was humiliated to be in love with a woman of lower class, and, instead of accepting her for what she was, decided to attempt to change her completely. This shows how hard, and almost impossible, it was for women to climb the social ladder and have an identity that was separate from their husband.

Week Three: Camila

The film Camila typifies the almost powerless status that women held in the early days of Latin American countries. Elizabeth Dore’s essay recounts the history of women’s rights in this part of the world. Although she points out that women had more legal or judicial rights than women in other countries, some of their most basic rights are completely violated. The lack of freedom to choose one’s own husband is a central theme in Camila, and as the movie shows, one of the most important decisions to a woman. Although many women in this time most likely chose their husbands, as Dore points out, the parents had the legal ability to intervene if the pairing was not to their liking. Some women would probably choose the complete control of selecting their future husband over the ability to sign certain documents.

            The punishment for disobeying the will of one’s parents, as seen in Camila, can be as harsh as death. There seems to be nothing more humiliating to parents in this early Latin America than the inability to control one’s children, especially the daughters. A sense of loyalty and obedience is expected of all those subordinate to the father, and when this is broken, that daughter is a black stain on the reputation of the family. This seems slightly overdramatic when all Camila wanted to do was marry the man that she loved. Although much of the scandal had basis in her marrying a priest, this did not seem to be the final straw for her father. He expected Camila to marry her friend who was of the same social status and rank, knowing full well that she did not love him. To the father, it would not matter if she had run off with a man suitable for marriage; it was the defiance of his assumed control over her that angered him so much.

            This complete control by the parents or father of a Latin American family was fueled by the strict differences in the privileges between the different social classes. Those who could not control their daughters did not belong in an elite social class. A scandal like in Camila could damage so severely the reputation of any family that they may not recover. The fact that Camila’s future brother-in-law cancelled the wedding of her sister is evidence of this. Obviously love holds no value in this society, it was all about reputation, status and control. Camila’s father had no reservations in ordering the execution of his own daughter when she was found. It mattered not that he would be losing his daughter, but that it would be seen as a final act of control that he had over his daughter. It seems that the power over family members in this era was not what made the family stronger, but what fostered contempt and the lack of love between its members.