User Reviews

The Cuban revolution promised equality among the affluent, middle and poor classes. That was only a dream. We are shown the reality that country is living these days in which certain privileged people live with a certain degree of material comfort, while the rest must eke out a life doing menial jobs in order to survive. Alas, those early promises of the early years of the revolution, evidently, benefited only the upper echelons of people in government. Today the artists allowed to tour abroad, and those with family overseas, mainly in the United States, are the newly rich in a country whose average salary is ridiculously low and where living conditions, such as depicted in the film show another reality rarely seen in other films from that country. We saw a DVD version of the film from someone that was given an advance copy recently.

"Habanastation" is an eye opener for the present Cuba. Mayito, the son of Pepe, a jazz pianist of international renown. As such, he can travel abroad for presentations where he is in demand. When Pepe returns home, he usually brings his son a new gadget, usually an electronic game. This time is a PlayStation3, Mayito already has a DVD player he watches on his way to school as his mother drives him there.

The daily routine for the school includes a sort of swearing ceremony in which the children in their neat uniforms promise to be like Che Guevara. Kids will be kids, so it comes as no surprise when Mayito's classmate, Carlos, who has no clue as to what a PlayStation is, becomes the object of ridicule by Mayito and the more evolved boys. There is a scuffle with Mayito, when Carlos feels he is being taunted for his ignorance.

May Day celebration brings Mayito, Carlos and their class to the plaza where thousands meet to hear speeches praising their system. There is one problem though. Mayito, who has brought the new toy with him in his backpack to show his friends, becomes separated from his group by taking the wrong bus, thinking it is the right one. Realizing his mistake, he is let out by the driver in a section that looks, for all practical purposes, like a 'favela' in Rio, or one shanty town in the outskirts of any Latin American cities.

Help for Mayito comes when he bumps into Carlos, the classmate he fought with in school. Carlos is surprised because Mayito sticks out like a sore thumb in that type of neighborhood. Carlos invites a frightened Mayito to come home with him. He even offers to share his meager meal of some pasta with eggs. Unknown to Carlos, Mayito has a sandwich in the bag which he decides to eat by himself asking to be shown to the bathroom. Unfortunately, he drops it in the toilet bowl creating a problem as it clogs the device. Mayito ends up throwing his lunch away and must eat something he did not want to eat.

"Habanastation", directed with sure hand by Ian Padron, and based on a screenplay by Felipe Espinet, speaks volumes about friendship and generosity found in an unexpected source from someone deemed inferior to the rich boy. Mayito would not dream of inviting Carlos to his home, nor would his pretentious mother allow to happen, and yet, it is because of the poor boy's actions the rich kid manages to get out without being harmed by the tough gangs in the area.

In fact, one of the surprises of the film is the frank treatment of the subject matter in a picture from a place like Cuba, whose cinema has always presented an ideal society where one would assume class differences would not even exist. The film is an eye opener as to how, even today, there is a difference between rich and poor and how far apart those worlds are. In fact, the contrast between the selfish Mayito and the generous Carlos speak volumes about human nature.

The two boys Ernesto Escalona and Andy Fornanis are a revelation. Both are credible, acting with aplomb and a maturity that are uncommon. We have no clue whether they are professionals, or not. Blanca Rosa Blanco, seen as the mother of Mayito, does not fare as well. Luis Alberto Garcia, the father, has what amounts to a supporting role.

That side of Havana one is never shown was captured in vivid detail. The musical score is credited to Rene Banos. Ian Padron is to be congratulated for a film that is inspirational. Generosity and friendship between the boys is what makes this film an important document in human relations in spite of what appears to be insurmountable differences.