Tribuna de La Habana
Cultura

An Eden near Hell
by Ada Oramas

A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela. Edited by Walter Lippmann. Original: http://www.tribuna.islagrande.cu/etiquetas/octubre/27/un-eden-cercano-al-infierno.html

Parallel stories of the fight for independence which, at certain times, leaves aside the intimacy of a love triangle to show images taken from the emblematic narrations of heroism of the time used in the thesis by director, Daniel Diaz Torres, reflects the struggle from the “personal perspective of each character”.

To objectively evaluate the Cuban-Spanish joint production, Camino al Eden, in which the spectator must go to the movies without preconceived ideas which could turn him off by certain crossroads in the plot which demand an unprejudiced analysis to demonstrate antagonism with a focus resembling text books.

I am referring to the causes of the war undertaken by Cubans to free themselves from subordination to a tyrannical Metropolis. That is not present in the film discourse which – for the Cuban public – is a bit inexplicable and for foreigners is a distortion which may prevent understanding that reality.

The script, by Arturo Infante, also shows the image of the Weyler Re-concentration, made quite sugary and whose inclusion in this film has the objective of saving the lives of the inhabitants of the region in face of a supposed danger because of the advance of the Mambi. In fact, the invasion freed territories and in no way represented death and destruction.

Obviously the Weyler re-concentration was a massacre of the Cuban people as demonstrated by the documents and testimonies of the time.

I am not talking of specific situations but of scenes which could have dubious meanings for those who do not know the Cuban history, even though the central theme of the plot is based on a work by General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo.

From the plot's viewpoint, although fiction, I observe situations which are not believable, such as the passionate scenes of the Mambi with the slave in a house without an ounce of privacy, when nighttime did not offer cover for the lovers.

I do consider the high level of acting of the Cuban and Spanish actors. The protagonists demonstrate a truly notable performance in the characterizations of Limara Meneses, as the slave, and witch that draws her personage through the vibrations of her passion.

Pilar Punzano gives life to the Spanish woman, seduced by the Mambi who, when she sees herself betrayed, reveals a cunning character and, as the film continues, puts in practice knowledge learned from the slave, cures the wounded and is transformed into a heroine in an impressive turnabout and with a minimum of expressive resources through very fluid transitions.

In the personage of the Mambi sergeant, Lieter Ledesma skillfully performs the combatant where sexuality was at the fore and prolonged his stay in that house where the two women were captivated by the attractions of the young rebel. A character actor, with high prestige in Spanish language filmography, the Spaniard Alvaro de Luna made a notable performance as the owner and master of those grounds.

Asseneh Rodríguez assumes the role begun by Limara, after almost seventy years, in which the grandchild of her mistress visiting Cuba, reminds her of that period of her life in a very convincing performance with her typical mastery. In a brief intervention, Fernando Hechavarría gives his role features of a self-centered person without any other concern but his own ambitions.

Camino al Edén undoubtedly has technical and artistic values, in spite of what is expressed here. It is an impeccable film production by Daniel Díaz Torres; creativity in the art design by Onelio Larralde and excellent photography by Yamil Santana. A second part is hinted entitled Eden perdido which will be shown next month in the capital movie theaters.     

© 2007  Tribuna de La Habana  Director: Jesús Álvarez Ferrer,  J' de Información: Víctor Joaquín Ortega  Redacción: Territorial y General Suárez, Plaza de la Revolución, Teléfono: 881-8021. INFOCOM.  http://www.tribuna.islagrande.cu  http://www.tribuna.co.cu  e-mail: redac@tribuna.cip.cu

Inicio |  Mapa del Siti