The following is a press statement sent out by Andy Garcia upon news of the passing of Guillermo Cabrera Infante. It echoes the sentiment of all Cubans, in exile and those within the island fortunate enough to have been able to covertly read Cabrera-Infante's works:
"El Maestro"- G. Cabrera-Infante - A Cuban original.
The news of the death of the Cuban writer Guillermo Cabrera-Infante brought great sadness to all of us who cherished not only his extraordinary literary legacy but shared with him his passionate love for our native Cuba and it's culture, to which he dedicated his entire life.My collaboration with him on the film "The lost City," an original story he wrote for me and that we have been dreaming of for the past 15 years has been one of the highlights of my life. Finally after so many years of struggle the film is nearly finished and almost ready to be viewed by the public. An experience he will never have. I will try and find solace in the feelings of pleasure he expressed to me after viewing the film for the first time just weeks ago.
His passing marks the end of an era - the tragic passing of a generation of leaders, artists, who kept our culture alive in exile and who never, gave up on the tireless fight for a free and democratic Cuba.He was a man of extraordinary intellect and literary genius. But beyond that, the one thing I will always remember is his most-treasured sense of humor and wit. His unique and un-equaled word play, with its roots in the streets of his beloved Havana, fueled by his uncompromising sense of observation, seducing readers in all corners of the world. A Cuban Groucho mixed with Sophocles, with a dash of the thousands of volumes of books that surrounded him in his home in London.
Have you read them all? I once asked.
"Only once." he replied dryly.
My smile could not have been wider.
You like jokes don't you? I asked.
"It's the laughter, you become addicted to it," he said with glint in his eye as he puffed on his ever-present cigar. His devoted and beautiful wife Miriam by his side -- "Ay! Guillermo", she would enjoy him even more than I.
What is one to do now? How does one behave faced with a loss so great? Yes, our lives will go on but never in the same way, not without "El Maestro," without our guide who for a time lent us his eyes and used his pen to point us forward. All we can do is honor him for his love of Cuba, it's culture and it's language, by carrying his example and sharing his wisdom with future generations.
My deepest admiration and condolences to his beautiful family.
"Maestro," I'll see you at the premiere. Your spirit will forever be represented in our film.
A love Lost, a lost love, The Lost City.
Andy Garcia
Los Angeles, Ca.
2/21/05
Thank you, Andy, for such kinds words and for the homage to Mr. Cabrera Infante's works and life through "The Lost City."
And I am sure I am not alone in stating that my generation of Cubanos and Cuban-Americans still carry the love for the land and people and culture of nuestra Patria.
Mas: Guillermo of Venepoetics has a wonderful essay on Cabrera-Infante; his life, his work and his art.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 22, 2005 12:07 PM |
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» Into The Light: Guillermo Cabrera Infante from The Laughing Wolf
I am late posting this, but Val has a good post here on the Cuban-born writer's death. Others can and will address his literary mark, but I will simply add to it that it is a shame that he did... [Read More]
Tracked on February 24, 2005 06:14 AM
¡Como él no hay dos!
Posted by: Klaus Meyer at February 22, 2005 02:47 PM
Hi,
This news really hit me hard this morning. Two of the most significant literary figures of my life, Hunter Thompson and Guillermo Cabrera Infante, dead less than a week apart.
Three Trapped Tigers (my Spanish sadly isn't nearly good enough to read Tres Tristes Tigres, and my Cuban even less so) was one of the most amazing works I've ever read, like a Havanan Ulysses-meets-American Graffiti with a B-List Hollywood supporting cast as long as the Estrella character in the book was wide.
I have forced that book on more people than any other, by far, and a man of his integrity, humor, class and talent will be missed all over, not just among Cuban emigrés and cineastes too smart for their friends.
The release from Andy Garcia is wonderful. Thanks for reprinting it. There's been a dearth of English-language news about this today.
Goodnight and thank you, Guillermo Cabrera Infante. You have made my life brighter and better, which is more than I ever would have expected from some old Cubano sinner cinemaniac I never met. Thanks for leaving something special behind.
And thank you, Val, for remembering him.
Posted by: Chico at February 23, 2005 02:04 PM