Man of Two Havanas

It is rare that I can sit through a 90 minute documentary. I got pulled in immediately by A Man of Two Havanas. The narrator, Vivien Weisman, the daughter of the man has a sweet comforting voice that rewards your attention. I learned more about Cuba and Fidel Castro in ninety minutes than I'd learned my entire life. Several things are going on in the film. You get the history of Cuba from Bastista till today, you see the relationship between a revolutionary man and his daughter - I fell in love with both of them, you feel ashamed of the role you played just because you are a U.S. citizen for our embargo against Cuba particularly since the fall of the Soviet Union. The production values are very high. This film is a gem.

The Cuban "Evolution" is alive and well. And Vivian's story on film is another example of what real Cubans want for Cuba, what real Cubans want for the world. We want peace, unity, compassion for our families, friends and fellow humans around the world.

One day soon, all political representatives in Washington DC will realize the con job that has been placed on them by "The Bermuda Triangle" (Ros-Lehtinen and the Díaz-Balart brothers). They do not represent the majority of Cubans in Miami or the world.

A true person, (Cuban), acknowledges mistakes, forgives others and forgives themselves. We will change course to live life freely verse die being righteous and taking their fellow humans, (Cubans), down with them.

Destroying Cuba is what "The Bermuda Triangle" has been doing by enforcing the righteous-embargo for decades. A true person, leader, lives and acts for peace and unity first. Not wait for the other guy, (Castro) to go first.

I look forward to this film bringing life and action to the spirit we all know exist with all humans. Max as a father, you did your with Vivian. Thank you Vivian for sharing your father with us.

I wish you both continued success. Luis Moro EveryThingCuba.com

This is a narcissistic try of Vivien Lesnik Weisman to make a "big documentary". Although it includes great political issues, that need to be put out in the light and discussed, she makes a crucial mistake: she makes it all about HER. Her voice is unnatural (in narrative mode), artificial. We see that when she speaks in the scenes, her voice is actually normal and calm, without unnecessary grandiose manner. When we get interested in people she is portraying, she cuts it and pulls it back to ... herself. It is like looking a family album, wanting to know more, much more, while she keeps interrupting our questions to be able to point at herself at the photos. When visiting interiors, the bigger amount of time would be spent on camera chasing her (in a nice dress) than showing the place itself.

I am sure the issue of this movie is extremely important, it is becoming more important every day, when Cubans are literally left in starvation and poverty, but Lesnik Weisman just didn't make a good job. She apparently also never understood her father, nor his humility, energy, cause and the idea of revolution. She concludes the documentary claiming she is able to understand him now, come closer to him - but abuses this claim to steal the media cameras from him and focus them - you guessed by now - on herself.

Other than that, the structure of the movie suffers greatly, the shifts between the scenes and happenings are many times too rough, the monologues are left too unfocused. She tries to fit everything in this movie: politics, Cuban life, American life, both of the languages, lots of violent history, family life, political opponents, terrorists and herself. Overcrowded.

Director, Vivien Weisman, does a superb job of drawing you in to the Cuban revolution and the following migration of its refugees to Miami. This personal journey brings home the risks involved in taking a stand. Courage has its price. Her family's deep commitment to the Cuban cause takes a strange twist when ex-patriot Cubans shoot bullets at her childhood home. Growing up with danger,Weisman portrays the Cuban situation (with all of its complexities) from an insider's point of view. This film is bound to stir up emotions for Cubans and on-lookers alike. From the perspective of a daughter caught in Cuban politics since before she could talk, Weisman juxtaposes the poverty of the Cuban people with her own life in the United States. Great imagery from the revolution. Very compelling movie.