Sons of Cuba (PG) 88mins 2010 UK, Dir. Andrew Lang

Trish Meehan - CubaSi (Spring 2010 issue)

The recently released film ‘Sons of Cuba’, a feature length documentary, seems to ask why Cubans bother to continue to make their revolution. What inspired British director Andrew Lang were the words of the young Cuban boxer who had just defeated British lightweight Amir Khan at the 2004 Olympics: 'We are fighters in all walks of life. Ours is a small country – we live to fight.”

‘Sons of Cuba’ documents three boys (aged 9-11) at the Havana Academy, preparing in the lead up to selection for the national youth boxing championships. The filmmakers gained unique access to the academy training process , the boys and their families, and the film gives a tender insight to the emotional and often confusing cocktail of commitments to their parents, their country, themselves and each other.

You are rooting for the boys throughout the film which is beautifully shot and without commentary, allowing the editing of the interaction between the boys, the coach and their families to tell the story, which reaches beyond the world of boxing.

Boxing fans are well aware of Cuba’s prestigious training system and ability to produce world champions, while remaining an amateur only nation: from Mario Kindelan, past Olympic and World Amateur lightweight champion, and Felix Savon, to the 5 Cuban boxers in the current world top ranking, there are high hopes for Cuba in the 2012 Olympics.

However, it is difficult not to wince at the gruelling training and the pain of the fight for these young boys, and the theme of sacrifice is central to the film.

From 1959, the revolution made a commitment to nurturing young people who show talent in sport or the arts and are prepared to work hard, via vocational schools which are part of their free education system including graduate level. This has produced sports champions such as Kindelan and artists such as Carlos Acosta, who have defied their island’s status as a poor and developing nation to achieve excellence internationally. In any country children who are encouraged to develop their sport or art through rigorous training do sacrifice some of their childhood, and sportspeople and artists sacrifice many things in order to pursue their vocation.

Another question raised in the film is the validity of the “prize” at the end of all this sacrifice: is the Cuban prize, of glory rather than wealth, worth it? During the making of the film 3 boxers defect to the US, undeniably attracted by the big money of professional sport. In contrast, when the three-times Olympic gold heavyweight winner Teofilo Stevenson was asked why he didn't succumb to offers to defect to the United States and become a professional, he replied: "What is $5m compared to five million Cubans who love me?"

Of course, the film can be interpreted as questioning whether the struggle of the socialist revolution, and its demands for sacrifice by the Cuban people, has been worth it. But this has often been a theme in Cuban-made films and other art forms, and ‘Sons of Cuba’ received a very warm welcome at the Havana film festival in December, winning the prize for ‘Best Film on Latin America by a Non-Latin American’. The director reports the film, made with support of ICAIC, is due to be shown on Cuban TV.

The quieter but nonetheless crucial theme of the film is the extraordinary solidarity within Cuba. Despite the charisma of the three boys, the star of the film is Yosvani, the academy coach. Having had to give up boxing himself early on, he is an inspiring and thoughtful teacher and dad to all, even to opposing coaches. The love, humour, integrity and camaraderie he exudes and inspires in his boys and all around him is a real lesson in solidarity.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: CubaSi

Look out for screenings in selected cinemas. DVD due out in June. For more details see www.sonsofcuba.com