What strong aspects of Hispanic culture are represented vividly in this film? What are some of these aspects that you think characterize the Cuban culture? Please support your ideas and discussion with clear examples from the film
There were many aspects of Hispanic culture and specifically Cuban culture represented in this film. Many of which were music, food, drinks, family, religion, and politics.
The song Guantanamera is a Cuban "folk song". It tells the story of a man who loves a woman but loses her. In the film it tells the story of the journey from Guantanamo to Havana. "Guantanamera" means the woman from Guantanamo. In the chorus "Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera" guajira is Cuban slang for a female from the countryside. It is also a Cuban style of music, song or dance. Also throughout the film you would hear some good salsa music. I totally understood Candido, when he wanted the cab driver to turn the music off. Of course Adolfo showed his machismo when he turned to Candido and told him he wanted it on to hear the weather. But Candido was persistent that he didn't want to listen to music at that time, because he was mourning, and did not feel that it was a time to celebrate.
Food was seen throughout the film. It seems that coffee is the beverage of choice, because it was offered throughout the film. Both the cabdriver and Mariano use the Black Market to make extra money. As they travel across the island, they buy food such as bananas, garlic and turkeys to be resold at a higher price when they arrive in Havana.
When they reach Bayamo there was a tour guide telling the story of the city. This scene is a reference to contemporary Cuba.
"During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, Bayamo was the most important smuggling center on the island. In this way they made a mockery of restrictions and the rigid trade monolopy of the Spanish Crown which stifled economic growth. Illegal trade with the English, French and Dutch was practiced by all the locals including the administrative, military, and religious authorities. Their dealings with the Protestants, branded as heretics not only influenced economic growth, but also affected cultural and polictical life. Throught this channel, the doors were opened for books banned by the inquistion and the liberal and progressive ideas of the time. It was no coincidence that Bayamo was the first city to rise in arms against the colonial domination which was stifling the development of the country."
After Gina buys the dress that Adolfo despises her in, the story of Olofin is told. Olofin made men and women but did not make death. The men and women got too old and tired. Iku brings out rains and floods for 30 days and 30 nights and only children could climb the trees and go to higher ground. The Earth was then cleaned and more beautiful because of the end of immortality.
Family is very important in the Hispanic culture. Family ties were very apparent in the film. You saw this with Gina and Aunt Yoyita. Although Candidto was not officially family, he was very welcomed by Gina, and invited to travel with her and Adolfo to get Aunt Yoyita to her hometown of Havana where she could rest in peace. You saw throughout the film that families would get together at the funerals. I found it weird that they would have to have a ticket to get food at the funeral. Adolfo did not show that he was a "family man", but he did show that the culture of Cuban men being dominate over women.
The paths of Mariano's truck and Adolfo's troublesome car with Adolfo, Gina and Candido as passengers, keep crossing. Both background and foreground keep pointing to the shortages of everything in Cuba, where one-table "secret" restaurants spring up, where a fan-belt is a small treasure, where coupons are needed for many things, even in a cemetery's cantina, where the car's riders munch bananas from the subterranean economy as the radio spouts positive agricultural statistics.
I found this film to be very interesting, some things we have seen in other films like in Motorcycle diaries, people traveling to find work, food, etc., and in Like Water for Chocolate, the abusiveness of a man with a woman.
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What a great blog. I appreciate all the extra time and effort you put into it.
ReplyDeleteI also understood Candido. He was the only character that I respected in this film. He seemed to be the only one mourning the death of Yoyita. The other characters had their own agendas throughout the journey to the cemetery. Aldofo was attempting to regain the favor of his superiors. I believe Gina loved her aunt Yoyito, but she also had others things on her mind, such as rekindling a romance with Mariano. Even the driver was buying good along the way and stashing them in the hearse.
Thanks for your blog
Good job on your blog Heather! I love that you put the song lyrics in there for that crazy song that they sung throughout the movie. I agree with you about Candido, I think he truly was the only one that mourned for Yoyito. I'd like to think that maybe he was trying to be a different person than most men in his culture. He encouraged Gina to go after her heart with the missing boyfriend and showed his aggrevation for Aldolfo for being like the rest of Cuban/ Hispanic men that think it is their job to put their hands on a woman and control them.
ReplyDeleteI did think it was hilarious about the caskets and the transporting of the dead bodies throughout the film. Kudos to you for your pictures on your blog.
Good job!