Boba_Fett1138 This is a rather good and surprising Cuban movie, focusing on homosexuality in Communist Cuba. It's not the sort of movie you expect coming from Cuba and on top of that it also isn't a movie that stays on the surface but goes in into the subject real deep.It's not a movie that focuses on the physical relationship between the two main characters but more between the spiritual relationship of the two, which is a surprising approach. So, it's not a 'standard' movie about two man falling in love with each other, as you at first might expect when watching this movie. It's a movie that goes much deeper and therefor gets more layered, interesting and compelling to watch. It's great to see how the two of them grow toward each other, in a non-forced or formulaic way. It feels like a warm and very realistic movie, since it never chooses to diverse from its main plot-line and mainly focuses purely on the two main characters of the movie.Vladimir Cruz gives a good and realistic performance. But one thing that bothered me about him was that he was very popular in both male and female camp, which seemed weird and funny to me, since he really didn't looked like an handsome guy. But who knows, maybe this is the Cuban's idea of a pretty looking man. Jorge Perugorría also did a good job, although he performance as an homosexual character seemed a bit too feminine and over-the-top to me at certain points. He played the character like an obvious stereotype of a gay person but he did it in such a good and sincere way that it wasn't always a problem.I was also surprised by the look and overall atmosphere of the movie. Foreign movies, made outside of Cuba, always focus- and shows its visual beauty, of wide beaches, palms, beautiful music and people living there. It's a sort of an almost surreal and alternate world if you look at it. This movie is however more dark and gritty and shows the ugly side of Havana, both visually as with its themes and underlying comments.Some of the symbolism and underlying messages in the dialog are a bit too obvious, as if they were trying too hard, but this is perhaps the only real flaw in the movie its excellent story and directing of the movie.Don't know why the movie is often being regarded and treated as a comedy. It's above all an heavy drama but done in a light and more pleasant sort of way, but those are no reasons for me to regard this movie as a comedy. The movie uses the more European style and approach of the story and characters. So be sure what to expect when watching this movie.A great and relevant movie because of its themes, and I assume also a big step forward for gay-right and tolerance in Cuba.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

RResende Cinema is an art in itself and not a sum of arts. That is because it has specific things that can't be made alone by any other art. Now, what exactly can make cinema an art of its own is arguable but will always have something to do with passing anything through moving images:. storytelling . a mood, an atmosphere . factall three are worth exploring. In Fresa y chocolate, the problem is there is an apparent mixture of all three, which can exist, but not like exposed in here. The device was clear and apparently effective: a simple story inside Story. never mind the simple story, it's the least important. The Story is the whole Cuba context. Go to the general, pick up an episode (that may represent or not, fact) and from there build the mood, the atmosphere. This last step was what failed. And it was for a non definition on the "eye" of the camera. By giving all the ingredients, all the passwords to the contained world (island) and to its specific context, it should have been shown. I've been to Cuba, there was not much lacking for me, i know what i didn't see in the picture, but by focusing on dialog (that could for its meaning come embedded on the mood) and by not having an eye for the street, for the people, for the city, the project lost a big deal. It had everything to be a film about a city. Story inside space, since the story we are told is clearly typical, one in many. it may have been political issues behind, and it is of great importance that this film could have been made, versing such locally heavy themes. But that's my main critic, Gutiérrez Alea had an excellent eye for portrait, and for placing stories in context, but he lacked the sense of the place, in terms of senses (modd, atmosphere). Even though a good document, worth watching, excellent character development, excellent performances also. Diego's house (and the dialogs that go with it) contain excellent underline thoughts, the dialogs are filled (i didn't read the original story) with messages, in a not so subtle way. Also a note for the excellent use of the color (very Cuban).My evaluation: 3/5

Chris Adair Homosexuality is something that is not accepted in many countries, and this Cuban movie is based in this sentiment. The dramatic-comedy Strawberry and Chocolate was directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío, and was an adaptation of the story "The wolf, the forest, and the new man" by Senel Paz. This movie represents very well the sentiment against homosexuality that still exists. Vladimir Cruz plays the part of David, the protagonist (the "new man" in Paz's words), and Jorge Perugorría plays the part of Diego (the wolf).The plot begins in Havana with David and his failed attempt to make love to his girlfriend, Vivian. It continues later on Vivian's wedding day with another man, while David watches them from the background. Depressed, David goes to the ice cream stand and meets Diego, who is clearly homosexual. Diego invites him to his apartment, but David flees suddenly because Diego is very strange. He later returns to the apartment because he is under the pressure of his roommate, Manuel, to investigate "the queer." Friendship begins to grow between David and Diego. Diego is smart, knows a lot about art and culture, and teaches these things to his friend. The friendship between David and Nancy, one of Diego's friends, grows as well and they make love at the end of the movie. But, Diego is in trouble after sending a letter that ridicules the government for not accepting his art exhibition and, for this reason, the government kicks him out and he has to leave the country. The movie ends with a touching hug between Diego and David. I like the plot because it uses elements of comedy to demonstrate a serious theme, and I thing that this works well.There are two themes that clearly exist in this movie: friendship and tolerance. True friendship can only exist when two people accept each other as they are; not only physically, but on the inside as well. For example, friendship is nonexistent between Manuel and David because Manuel doesn't care about David's personality, rather his actions. By the end, David and Diego adore each other for all the qualities they have, and do not worry about physical things. Tolerance is something different and is important as well. Many people in Cuba (demonstrated in Manuel) and other countries can't change their thoughts about homosexuality because they are too strong and unmovable. David's tolerance for Diego grows during the progression of the movie and it is realized at the end with a hug between friends.The use of light works well to show the mood of the movie. The darkness at the beginning shows the feeling that they are doing something bad or dirty, and the brightness when David and Diego are in the hideout (Diego's apartment) at the end of the movie shows that things will be fine. The acting is good and adds to the movie. Sometimes, Perugorría's acting is too cheesy, but it works to show his strange character. Through Cruz's good acting, one can clearly see David's emotional growth with his new friendship with Diego, the strange guy.In reality, people do not accept a change from the norm, and this is true especially with homosexuality. Homosexuals still fight today in many countries for their rights, but many people still don't accept them. This movie shows us very well this feeling through drama but also with a few moments of humor. I would recommend this to my friends because it isn't too serious, but nonetheless has a moving message for the viewer.

contact-234 This movie is a great example of latin American cinema, the story of the friendship and human relations based on a very latin American situation : political chaos. Cuba, the last resort of the socialism in America is the place and a guy and a gay are the subjects. The humor, the situation , force you , my dear non- latinamerican viewer, to open your mind and explore just for a minute what u feel if you were in this kind of place and under this kind of government. This is not a love story, that will be the easy and stupid way to see it , this a story about freedom, tolerance and hope. Try something different, and taste a piece of our way of live. By the way ...I am latin.