February 16, 2005
Cuba linda de mi vida
I dont write much about celebrities here, save for a few rants on the castro and che loving Hollywood types, or tributes to the late Celia Cruz and other Cuban artists and musicians. Yet there's one guy, one very famous actor, Cuban-American, that deserves praise not only for his thespian accomplishments, but for his dedication to his roots.
Anday Garcia is, to me, un orgullo. A sense of pride. Despite his fame and notoriety, he has never forgotten where he comes from, never forgotten his people and never forgotten his culture. And he has never, ever, given up the fight against fidel castro.
My good friend Sheila wrote about Andy's latest film production, a movie about his homeland. A movie that has taken him 16 years to finish. And yet, despite his fame and notoriety, Andy has yet to find a distributor for The Lost City.
Mr. Garcia, who has directed only one other feature, the documentary "Cachao," and is also "The Lost City's" lead actor, said he had been knocking on doors for almost two decades to secure financing for just that kind of movie about the Cuban experience. He estimated that he had attended 50, perhaps 70, meetings with studio executives and others, but Hollywood was not interested and appears to remain uninterested. The film has yet to find an American distributor.Mr. Garcia said that though studio executives who declined to back "The Lost City" never told him they were bothered by the film's political undertones, he did not doubt that politics may have played a role. In one scene, it is implied that Che Guevara has given the order to execute a friend of the character Mr. Garcia plays in the film.
"I've seen a lot of naïve opinions about Cuba," Mr. Garcia said. "They think of it as that island down there, where people have rum and the cigars and 'I hear is very nice' type of comment. That's all they know. They have no clue that people live in an oppressed society."
The Hollywood elite refuse to let go that romantic noton of a young idealistic che guevara riding motorcycles through South America, or a big bearded teddy bear in green fatigues chewing a cigar addressing throngs of "supporters." They casually ignore all the deaths attributed to these men. And those that try to bring to light their injustices are branded "extremists."
I find it somewhat telling of the Hollywood arrogance that they believe they know more about fidel and che and the Cuban experience than those that have actually lived it. Perhaps all that living in the make believe actually makes them believe it's not make believe.
The final quote from the following is telling of where Andy's heart and soul come from, an island shaped like a crocodile just South of us.
The film pays homage to Cuban music, one of Mr. Garcia's passions. But more than anything, it is a story about an impossible love, which, Mr. Garcia says, is "the central metaphor of an exile's life.""The thing you most cherish, you can't have, so you find solace in the things that never betray you: your music, your family," said Mr. Garcia, who has been married to Marivi Lorido Garcia since 1982 and has four children.
Ask him if he ever dreams of living in Cuba again, and with his characteristic raspy, low voice, Mr. Garcia sighs and says: "Every day. Every day."
Si. Andy. Todos los dias. Todos.
Here's a quick clip from a song called "Cuba Linda" from Garcia's collaboration with the famous Cuba bassist Cachao featuring Arturo Sandoval on the horn and Andy reading from Jose Marti's Versos Sencillos:
UPDATE: Long time Babalu reader Mercedes comments that Andy's reading of Jose Marti brought her to tears. Mercedes, I can hear this a million times and a million times I will cry.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 16, 2005 11:39 AM
Comments
I have hearing about Andy's "Lost City" project for a while. I look forward to seeing the finished product. Maybe a little "blogsposure" will help finally bring the project to movie screens.
I've been a fan of Andy's since his first appearance on "Que Pasa U.S.A.?".
Posted by: Strange Dog at February 16, 2005 12:01 PM
As well as being a great actor, Andy Garcia was the producer on Cachao: The Master Sessions (both volumes). These CDs are on my desert island list. Superb musicians playing great music and enjoying every minute of it. All of it, I think, because of Andy's singular devotion to Cuban music and Cuban culture. Gracias, Andy. You make us all proud. I hope you secure financing for the movie: I've been wanting to see it since I first heard about it, too.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at February 16, 2005 12:50 PM
Wonderful clip! Where can I find this? Is it on a CD? The emotion in Andy's voice brought tears to my eyes.
Posted by: Mercedes at February 16, 2005 01:16 PM
Sorry Val, I hadn't clicked on "Cachao". I found the CD the clip is on. Thanks.
Posted by: Mercedes at February 16, 2005 01:18 PM
I'm really excited to see it ... He sounds like a man with a mission, so I am sure he will find at least limited distribution.
Remember, though, that it's tough to find distribution for even major studio-backed motion pictures - let alone small personal projects like this one.
I'm sure he will succeed, though.
Posted by: red at February 16, 2005 01:27 PM
I too admire Andy Garcia greatly. He is definitely someone who did not forget where he came from. His last project with Cachao won a Grammy this year.
Traditional Tropical Latin Album:
"Ahora Si!" Israel Lopez "Cachao."
This CD also includes a DVD showing the making of the CD. Very nice!
Posted by: Efrain at February 16, 2005 01:37 PM
That truly was gorgeous. Andy Garcia is definitely the man--so multitalented.
Posted by: The Gringo at February 16, 2005 02:09 PM
Oh, and Val - I agree with strange dog's first comment.
Perhaps a Blog-Buzz could be created around this movie - if it runs into any roadblocks in terms of distribution.
Posted by: red at February 16, 2005 02:49 PM
This sounds like the same ordeal Cuban writers go through. The doors are closed here, due to the liberal intelligentsia's desperate need to cling to its myths. I remember the Russians, during the Soviet days went through this too. Money talks, though, in Hollywood, as elsewhere, and that's what's gonna make those stinking liberals listen. Times are tough in Hollywood these days, it's a place in need of a good overhaul, fresh ideas. Mel Gibson paved the way for breakthrough ideas. Hollywood is too darn big and too darn culturally important to exist on the tiny, small, pinbrained creative ideas of these narrow minded liberals. Andy, if you're reading this, believe in yourself, because you've got a Cuban 'Passion' in the works. I can smell it and I can feel it. Believe it!
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at February 16, 2005 09:17 PM
I will start off by saying that I am not Cuban although I do support the Cuban population in the US. Maybe Andy Garcia can get some help from Mel Gibson. Mel made enough from Passion that he could probably front Andy the money to get the movie out there and with the number of hispanic people in the US who love Andy Garcia he could make enough money to keep on with what he does well. It seems to me that it would be a win-win for Mel and Andy both and since both men have the b*lls to back up what they believe they might do well to work together. Just an idea but it might work.
I have been a huge fan of Andy Garcia ever since The Untouchables. I would love to see more of his work. He for the Cubans and Olmedo for the Mexicans give me a lot of hope for the Hispanic commmunity. There is a lot of vibrant and beautiful talent out there to be harnessed and these men are capable of doing the job. Just need to get them the support.
Posted by: dick at February 16, 2005 09:31 PM
Hey if it could work, how about a blog for Andy's film. Cachao music changed my life, gracias Mr. Garcia. This film is probably his master piece and needs to be seen. Great post Val
Posted by: Kathleen at February 16, 2005 11:23 PM
Hollywood doesn't want this kind of message to get out, not while they're producing "Che" and "Motorcycle Diaries". It could hurt their bottom line if folks were actually educated about the Cuban situation.
Posted by: j.scott barnard at February 17, 2005 09:54 AM
@ j. scott barnard: i was scrolling down the comment list, reading along, in order to post my own comment and bam! you literally took the words out of my keyboard! great minds think alike, hmmm?
Hollywood distributing a movie critical of communist Cuba? How about Pravda writing about the Ukraine famine and the Gulag?
Posted by: valachus at February 20, 2005 06:09 AM
As a full time movie watcher, amatuer movie maker and part time money making slacker, I must say that hollywood cares more about profit than idealogy. It was the public who constantly emailed producers and made websites in favor of "risky" movies (like The Passion, and even Therese) that promised a suitable sized audience to make a profit. All that is needed is exporsure. Hollywood is a business, and once someone in the Movie business catches on that there is a large enough audience so that they can make a buck, the movie will be shown.
Thus in the spirit of "blogsposure:"
I would pay full price, and take people, to watch "Lost City".
Posted by: Songuacassal at February 21, 2005 12:10 AM