When we hear about Cuba, what usually comes to mind is its communist regime. It's one of the traits that distinguish the island from the other Caribbean and Latin American countries in general. Therefore, when talking about a Cuban film, it's quite tempting to make some political remarks. That is unavoidable with "Fresa y Chocolate", a 1993 film that's loaded with political content, but without a clear sense of ideological propaganda against or in favour of the system.The story begins when a university student member of the Communist Party meets a gay artist who doesn't like the regime. Davi, the communist boy, with the support of a roommate who's also a party member, decides to investigate the life of Diego, the political dissident, with the aim of denouncing him to the authorities. However, the relationship between the informal investigator and the suspect assumes unexpected features, giving place to a sincere friendship that leads the naive Davi to understand and to learn how to deal with the subversive differences represented by Diego.Some subtle criticisms are made about the regime, whose authoritarian nature is exemplified by the episode in which Diego tries to obtain a permit for an art exhibition. The harmless sculptures made by his friend Germán are banned, and Diego feels the reason for that is simple: works of art that are free of ideological propaganda in favour of the regime have no place in the island of Fidel Castro.At home, Diego often has to turn on the radio at a volume high enough so the neighbours won't be able to hear some of his conversations that might sound like defying the official ideology. It might be seen as a criticism against the lack of freedom of thought that's typical of authoritarian regimes, but it might also be interpreted as a proof of the high popular support for that same regime: even your neighbors collaborate with the authorities in the repression of political dissent.Nevertheless, there's also place for apologetic comments about the regime, as when Davi emphasizes the fact that he can go to university despite being the son of peasant parents.Leaving aside the political element, the human relationship between Diego and Davi unfolds in a captivating and convincing way. Davi is the typical straight guy who fears having his masculinity shaken by the contact with gay men. But little by little he lets his defences fall down until he's open enough for creating a trustful and intimate relationship with his new friend.Meanwhile, Diego is an effeminate man who has an intense love for art in general and shows an atypical erudition. At first, he shows a strong sexual interest in Davi, but he soon realizes that the young communist man is an irreversible straight guy and then he stops his flirtatious behaviour and chooses to build a disinterested friendship instead.Some moments make it clear that homosexuality is frowned upon by the official ideology. Homophobic remarks are often made by Davi's communist roommate. He's even "accused" of having an affair with Diego. Davi himself asks Diego why his family didn't take him to the doctor as a child so he could be cured from that "endocrinal disease". Diego laughs and says that being gay is something that has happened since the dawn of the world, and that it doesn't prevent him from being a decent and patriotic person. But Davi insists that homosexuality prevents him from being a revolutionary."Fresa y Chocolate" is at the same time enjoyable and thought- provoking, and gives us an opportunity to observe a portrait of the Cuban society from a surprisingly impartial perspective.

Fresa y chocolateI liked to watch Fresa y Chocolate; this is first Cuban movie I've seen. Fresa y Chocolate is a product of two directors, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío in 1993. Fresa y Chocolate was nominated in 1995 the best foreign film. During the production of this film the director Alea had cancer and for this reason Tabío had to help him to complete the movie. Later 1996 Alea die. This movie expresses the oppression of Cuban government toward the homosexual and the conflict also the friendship within two different men. Around 1997 in Cuba,Diego (Jorge Perugorria ) the main character is a cultured gay and David (Vldimir Cruz) a young revolutionary college student. He is a naive and dogmatic. The story begins at a cheap hotel room where David and his sweetheart, Vivian tried to have first intimate experience together but ended up angry at each other, later Vivian marries to a much older man who is in the government office position. David, the wedding day feeling low come to an Ice cream shop near by school and over there David and Diego meet. At the begging, it was Diego's attempt to allure David but soon it change and in spite of their sexuality, these two different men establish a true friendship. Most of story take a place at Diego's apartment where full of things (art work, forbidden books, pictures...) for David's eye. It is a new and different world for David, a dogmatic and in a way an ignorant. Diego tells David about his anguish and problem toward the government. For him being homosexual hinder his work in Cuba and also his well being, too.However, David learns much about art and literature from Diego and moreover, he learn how to enjoy and savor life. The message of this movie is tolerance. No matter what is one's sexuality people have genuine heart. They have hope, dreams, and frustration that life brings us.I think this movie is worth to watch because Fresa y Chocolate gave me a chance to give a glance to Cuba, the country that I don't know yet. To me watching a good film lessens a tension of life.

The movie was made in a place where everything you do and everything you say is because you been told is the truth. The only truth in Cuba is what the government tells you. They choose what you can and cannot read. That's why the friendship between these two very different man is so unique. A very intelligent homosexual and a heterosexual communist militant, what a pair. Where we see the respect and love they develop for each other. David learns he can show love for another man and still remains who he is. Diego fights for what he believes in. In a society where you need a permit to go anywhere, who much freedom do you really have?. How can a person understands and finds who he really is, if he's not allow to?. "Fresa y chocolate", makes you appreciate the freedom we have, and how prejudice we can really be sometimes.

A beautiful movie for the heart. One of the most wonderful stories of friendship ever told.Jorge Perugorría as Diego is amazing. (I'd well like to see some of his other work.) It is most astonishing to see how his character develops from the limp-wristed cliché gay at the beginning to a fascinating man who gets in conflict with the regime because he is different on every level from what the system requires him to be: he is an independent spirit, a person with a genuine love for the arts, for literature, for music, he is disappointed by communist ideals - and he is also gay, by the way.Vladimir Cruz is also very fine as the young and naive David who discovers things through his friendship with Diego he'd never ever thought of: like discovering the beauty of things, of life, of poetry and music... And also being committed to another person, even though this person may seem very 'different' from oneself at first glance.The development of David's and Diego's friendship is fascinating (I wouldn't interpret anything more into it, not even in the final scene). This is also a "coming of age" tale, in a way: by his friendship with Diego, David begins to think, develops a maturity of spirit - and is also, at last, able to develop a loving and mature relationship with a woman. It is very sweet when he tells Diego: "No-one will hurt her. She is with me."A true gem of a film. I recommend it to everyone.