East of Havana

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Audience Member Being Cuban but not a big fan of rap music, I was torn about watching this documentary! After it sat on my DVR for about 6 months, I decided that I would give it a shot. Immediately after the first few panning scenes of Cuba, I was glad that I decided to watch it. The movie was more about the hip-hop movement than the actual music. I loved seeing how these people are living in Castro's regime and making music that is not the norm for Cubans and most of it is censored in Cuba. The deeper that we delve into these peoples lives the more I realize that Cuba is in very bad shape! Although I'm not a fan of hip-hop I indeed liked the message in their music! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Being Cuban but not a big fan of rap music, I was torn about watching this documentary! After it sat on my DVR for about 6 months, I decided that I would give it a shot. Immediately after the first few panning scenes of Cuba, I was glad that I decided to watch it. The movie was more about the hip-hop movement than the actual music. I loved seeing how these people are living in Castro's regime and making music that is not the norm for Cubans and most of it is censored in Cuba. The deeper that we delve into these peoples lives the more I realize that Cuba is in very bad shape! Although I'm not a fan of hip-hop I indeed liked the message in their music! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member No words can describe it, anybody who's at all interested in contemporary Cuba should watch this. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member I was so proud of these kids. Here's the cast: Michel "Mikki Flow" Hermida, Magyori Martinez Veitia, and Soandres "Soandry" Del Rio Ferrer and Vladimir Ferrer (in the US) and their mother, Norma Despaigne. (Mrs. Despaigne passed away as the film was being made or released.) This flick is a New York Times Pick, produced by South African-born actress Charlize Theron. The kids' rap is mainly about being Black & female or Black & male in Cuba. (All of which means poor yet not as 'excluded poor' as during Black enslavement in Cuba and life before the Revolution, while at the same time the Cuban Revolution has left serious contradictions.) From the NY Times review: "East of Havana" is the real deal. Directed by Jauretsi Saizarbitoria and Emilia Menocal, it's a nonfiction feature about young Cuban rappers exercising the artist's prerogative to tell the truth in a country that muzzles free speech. Although the film is set in 2004 during the weeklong run-up to the International Festival of Rap Cubano and in the shadow of Hurricane Charley, there's no phony urgency. The filmmakers are mainly interested in hearing the music and learning about the musicians' compelling personal stories." Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Shows the power hip-hop can have as a lifeline when you're in an f-ed up situation. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member A Great Documentary about the Hip-Hop/Rap underground of Cuba. The music is awesome, the three Artists they follow each have a heartfelt story of struggle, passion for the music and life. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

East of Havana

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