This is literally a homemade documentary comprised of home video footage taken by Chris Hume during a year long trip to Cuba where he quietly filmed everything he could find with his Hi-8 camcorder using store-bought tape. Later the films were edited and a professional soundtrack, beginning and end credits, a voice over and other touches were added for big-screen viewing. The result is a moving commentary on the sad, repressive state of mid-1990s, post-Soviet Cuba. Castro still continues his oppressive rule and the country is quickly falling to economic and cultural ruin as the population (only 20% of which still supports Castro). Though he claims that things will soon improve, many hungry, out of work Cubans are unconvinced and so would rather brave the unpredictable shark filled Gulf waters on battered inner tubes than remain in their island homeland.
by Sandra Brennan
synopsis
