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Cuban Rafters

Play trailer Poster for Cuban Rafters Released Jan 17, 2003 2h 0m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A public television crew joined Cuban nationals in 1994 for this insightful documentary about their harrowing escape on a raft, their incarceration at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay and their transition to life in the United States. When the rafters, known as "balseros," finally arrived in the U.S., they spread out to a string of cities. Seven years later, the filmmakers reconnected with their subjects to see what progress they had made in their pursuit of the American Dream.
Cuban Rafters

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Critics Consensus

Patient and persuasive in its approach, Balseros puts a human face on the struggle to survive in 21st century Cuba -- and the dangerous battle to find a better life elsewhere.

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Critics Reviews

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Bill Stamets Chicago Reader Despite the heroic exertions of the rafters and filmmakers, this apolitical film is oddly lacking in drama. Mar 18, 2010 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe A heart-rending account of people trying to dodge the hurdles that politics puts in front of them. Rated: 4/4 Mar 19, 2004 Full Review Jonathan Curiel San Francisco Chronicle A seven-year time lapse that's full of drama, poignancy and some heartbreaking moments. Rated: 4/4 Mar 5, 2004 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Nov 3, 2005 Full Review Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com Here are a handful of fairly ordinary people who happen to be from a crippled island with a deteriorating economy, who earn our sympathy just by being themselves. Rated: B May 18, 2004 Full Review Jeff Vice Deseret News (Salt Lake City) Focuses its attention on telling a series of individual, human stories, refreshingly leaving the history lessons for the classroom. Rated: 3/4 May 7, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A documentary which is so raw that you can't say anything against it. It's a hard trip to take. 7/10 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member First of all I am amazed by the level of access the filmmakers had with the balseros. It was sad but interesting to see these people wanting a better life than they had in Cuba only to find it is worse for many of them in the U.S. after a while the film started to get a little tedious also. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Muy interesante documental sobre los balseros cubanos. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member interesting doc about cuban refugees Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Este documental vale la pena, aunque por momentos es peli-documental... pero si estas filmando una historia de mas de 5 años, al final los participantes son tus amigos y les puedes pedir tomas especiales. La historia cuenta la experiencia de los balseros cubanos y los sigue durante 5 años, en cuba y en usa... wenísima, un acierto histórico deja mucho más, porque llega a mostrar las vueltas de la vida. NOS ENCANTOOO! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member How each person can decide their future; even if they are given the same opportunities, it doesn't guarantee the same results. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cuban Rafters

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Movie Info

Synopsis A public television crew joined Cuban nationals in 1994 for this insightful documentary about their harrowing escape on a raft, their incarceration at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay and their transition to life in the United States. When the rafters, known as "balseros," finally arrived in the U.S., they spread out to a string of cities. Seven years later, the filmmakers reconnected with their subjects to see what progress they had made in their pursuit of the American Dream.
Director
Carles Bosch, Josep Maria Domènech
Screenwriter
Carles Bosch, David Trueba
Distributor
Seventh Art Releasing
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 2003, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 26, 2005
Runtime
2h 0m