Article Details | |  New Documentary About the Tour of La Colmenita in the United States
In October 2011 the National Children's Theater of Cuba, La Colmenita, carried out a historic tour in the United States making presentations in Washington DC, New York, and in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the New York presentations was held at the United Nations on the eve of the 20th time that the nations of the world overwhelmingly rejected the US blockade of Cuba.
The primary play that the group featured on the tour was Abracadabra about the Cuban 5 from the perspective of Cuban children. The play presents the audience with a vision of how unity will make possible the return of Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and René to Cuba. At the end of the play the children ask the audience in one loud voice "And now, what else can we do?"
Renowned filmmaker and Cuban photographer Roberto Chile joined the tour in New York City after delays by the US in issuing his visa prevented him from documenting the first leg of the tour. Thanks to the help of North American social documentary photographer Bill Hackwell we were able to cover in images the first intense days in Washington.
Upon his return, Chile created "Essence, La Colmenita, in the United States." The 68 minute film is a vivid testimony showing the interaction of the performers behind the scenes during the 19 days as La Colmenita performed in schools, squares and theatres reaching thousands of people in the US, many of whom had never heard of the Cuban heroes. La Colmenita declared Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF in 2007, also performed La Cucarachita Martina, a universal fable of love and acceptance.
In addition to the performances, the documentary shows moving telephone conversations that the young performers had with each of the Cuban 5. The climactic finish of the film is an emotional encounter that the group has with Rene Gonzalez, one of the Five released from prison on October 7, 2011 but confined to supervised parole in the US for 3 years. In documentary detail the film shows the surprise and joy of Rene's first encounter with the Cuban people since his arrest.
This film is another important tool in spreading the word about the struggle to free the Cuban 5 and can be shown at public meetings, schools, religious centers and independent theaters in your community. The documentary is available with English subtitles and can be purchased by writing to info@thecuban5.org.
The cost is $10 plus shipping.
The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 organized this historic tour with support from the Brownstone Foundation.
Written By: Editor SICWDate Posted: 2/20/2012Number of Views: 309 Return | |
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