The political background and ramifications of the movie “Strawberry & Chocolate” are nearly as interesting as the movie itself. The story of the movie was adapted by co-director Tomas Guiterrez Alea from a story written by Cuban writer Senel Paz entitled “El Lobo, El Bosque y el Hombre Nuevo” (The Wolf, the Forest and the New Man). The story, in turn, was about the last year in Cuba of Roger Salas, a Cuban refugee who emigrated to Spain. Salas was a homosexual and dissident who was imprisoned because of his sexual preference during the early years of the Castro regime. Homosexuals were badly treated following the communist takeover, many being placed in concentration camps and others simply disappearing. Salas ultimately escaped to Spain where he now works for a Spanish newspaper, El Pais, as a dance and ballet critic. Both Salas and Paz are critical of the movie “Strawberry and Chocolate” -- not for cinematographic failings, but on political grounds and for its expropriation of Salas’ life story for what they view as contrary political purposes. That the Castro regime permitted the film to be made and released is seen as a kind of belated act of confession by the regime, with the expectation of absolution – an absolution that the gay community is not prepared to provide, given the heinousness of the treatment of homosexuals in the early years of the regime and the belief that the recent policy improvements are motivated almost entirely by a need to attract tourists (and homosexual tourists in particular).

Nevertheless, the film, as a work of art, stands tall on its own considerable merits. David, a young, straight student from a poor background has benefited from the Communist takeover, now having access to a college education that would not have been available to him in pre-Castro Cuba. David strikes up an acquaintance with Diego, a somewhat more mature and better educated gay artist, initially because David and his anti-gay college roommate are planning to expose Diego as "anti-revolutionary." Diego suffers both official discrimination (he is unable to find work and is prohibited from exhibiting his art specifically because he is gay) and anti-gay attitudes of the straight students. As the film proceeds, David comes to respect and love Diego who serves as a kind of mentor to the younger man. David gradually grows out of his anti-gay assumptions, but the official discrimination persists to an extent that forces Diego ultimately to seek help leaving the country. Diego is portrayed positively throughout the film, except that it is revealed that his initial contacts with David were seductive in intent. There is also an interesting subplot involving an older woman , Nancy – a neighbor of Diego -- with suicidal tendencies. She is befriended by Diego and later becomes involved sexually with David.

Together, the three make up a veritable “odd trio” who demonstrate convincingly, in the end, that caring relationships can occur outside of conventional match-ups. Strawberry and Chocolate” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1994 and, in my opinion, is a better film than the winner from that year, the Spanish film “Belle Epoque.” The performances by the three leads, Jorge Perugorria, Vladimir Cruz, and Mirtha Ibarra are all excellent. This is a highly enjoyable movie, regardless of the viewer’s own sexual orientation, as it deals with basic issues of human relationships.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age