...en fin, el mar

Thank You Enrique Pinti for not forcing me to leave the theater and demand my money back. This was really a terrible movie where the director though that showing the awe-inspiring scenery that Cuba has to offer would be enough for people to think they were watching a good film.

Although it must be very tough for directors nowadays, viewers are more demanding, regardless of whether the movie cost $1 million to make or $1 thousand.

The acting is so bad that it is one of those types of movies that make you feel sorry for the actors to the point where you want to look away from the screen and make believe you never even watched the film.

The love story is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong...I do believe in love at first sight, but this is a bit much. Watch it if you must because we are all entitled to our opinions but it is highly probable that by the time you see the third Cuban sunrise you will be running for the nearest exit!

Latin American films often look different from Hollywood films, they might appear a bit amateurish by comparison because they are low budget, or don't have the technical perfection of Hollywood films. There's a different sensibility too, which is reflected in the acting style, which might seem a little stiff or artificial to someone not used to it, and there's more tolerance for non- narrative poetic sequences, unlikely plot twists, sentimental music, etc. If you're looking for a Hollywood type film, this isn't it. It has a more leisurely pace and not all the loose ends are tied up. But if you want to see a movie about contemporary Cuba, it's worth a look. It captures the complex emotions of people who go back to Cuba looking for roots and feel confused about their identity. I appreciate seeing different points of view, and the scenery is beautiful. I agree it's not the best film ever made, but I like that it emphasizes the human side of things and tries to break down some of the barriers that separate Cuban Americans from Cubans who stayed on the island.

A beautiful love story.

A nice approach to migration.

Let me begin by stating that, if you are looking for a high quality film, this is not it. The whole thing comes off amateurish at best, but it is a film worth seeing because of the subject matter and a look at a world of which so many of us have little knowledge.

The plot of the tale is improbable - at best. It begins with a scene of Cubans boarding rafts in an attempt to escape to Florida. A young couple, she showing some apprehension, board their homemade raft and set out to sea.

The scene shifts to where we see two young men of substantial means relaxing on a beach in Florida. One of the men sees something floating in the water, investigates, and finds the young couple's raft. Scratched into the wood is the name of the couple. It just so happens that Tony, the finder of the raft, is of Cuban decent, and that the name on the raft is his Cuban mother's family name - I told you the plot was improbable.

Tony is a successful commodities trader from New York who, because of family history, knows little about his deceased mother's life and family in Cuba. Even after returning to his all consuming work schedule, Tony is filled with a new curiosity about his heritage.

He takes some time off and travels to Cuba with the hopes of finding the family of whomever boarded the raft. Once Tony arrives in Cuba, the probability quotient of the tale decreases even more for not only does he find the family of the owners of the raft, but the young woman had been rescued during a storm at sea and had returned to Cuba.

The family is not the same as Tony's mother so the young woman is not his cousin which is good because they eventually have an affair.

As I said, the movie - as far as movies go - is not very good. The acting is strained and the situations are mostly absurd, but there is a heart to the whole thing that makes it worthwhile. The viewer is given, according to what I have read, a fairly realistic view of everyday life in Cuba, and the ending of the film gives a genuine message about heart and homeland. If you have a spare hour and a half and are the least bit interested, I recommend giving this film a try.

This is a beautiful movie with a subject needed to be filmed. It brings different aspects of our Cuban life and identity without taking a political position, excellent done! The film has captivated audiences all over the world. The immigration and people separation by the sea. That power that joins and separates us. In Cuba, after just 16 screenings, 15.000 people came to the theater to enjoy and support not just the story but the project. The music and the treatment of the image creates the atmosphere of our beautiful Island missed and loved by we all Cubans. The awards collected so far are deserved and well obtained. CONGRATULATIONS!