Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

A POR TR AIT OF CUBA  33

realities of Cuba’s situation, In general, the literary scene
was one of the most original in revolutionary Cuba has
and innovative authors in been characterized by creative
20th-century world literature. fervour, in poetry and in novel-
Using a blend of irony and writing. Among the “veterans”,
respect, he gave voice to the people who lived through the
myths of his country, anti- experience from the outset,
cipating the destructuring mention should be made
of the post-modern novel. of the poets Eliseo Diego,
Among his major works are The Cintio Vitier, Pablo Armando
Kingdom of This World, Fernández and Fina García
The Lost Steps, Concierto Barroco Marruz; and the novelists Félix
and The Age of Pita Rodríguez, Author Dulce María Loynaz, pictured in
Enlightenment. Mirta Aguirre, her twenties
Two other leading and Dulce María
figures of the same Loynaz. The works
period are the of Loynaz were not Contemporary Writers
dramatist Virgilio published in Cuba Present-day authors worthy
Piñera (1912–79), until the late 20th of mention include Abel
a reformer, who century, just before Prieto, former Minister of
had a marked taste her death. Culture, a brilliant and
for experimental These authors perceptive author of several
theatre, and José were followed novels, including The Cat’s
Lezama Lima by the younger Flight. Another name is Abilio
(1910–76), a poet A famous novel by Alejo writers Miguel Estévez, a dramatist and
of elegance, also a Carpentier (1974) Barnet, Antón novelist of extraordinarily
novelist and chief Arrufat, López expressive intensity, with a
editor of the magazine Sacha and César López, lyrical and visionary tone.
Orígenes. From 1944 to committed writers in favour Marylin Bobes and Mirta Yáñez
1956 this leading periodical of the Revolution. both write from the feminist
printed works by the best Among the anti-Castro angle. Senel Paz wrote the
Cuban writers and artists of authors writing in exile, the story that inspired the film
the time. It became one of leading name was the late Strawberry and Chocolate;
the key publications in Latin Guillermo Cabrera Infante and detective-story writer
America. Lima is internation- (1929–2005), whose works Leonardo Padura is known
ally known as the author of include Infante’s Inferno and abroad for a quartet of
Paradiso (1966). Three Trapped Tigers. mystery novels set in Havana.

Cuban Cinema
The founding of the Instituto Cubano del Arte y la
Industria Cinemato-gráficos (ICAIC) in 1959 virtually marked
the birth of cinema in Cuba. The aim of this institution was to
disseminate motion picture culture throughout the country,
and thus encourage the formation of Cuban directors, to
work on documentary films in particular. Fostered by the
revolu tionary government, Cuban cinema experienced a
golden age in the 1960s and has been evolving ever since.
Today Havana is the capital of new Latin American cinema
thanks to the annual film festival organized by ICAIC. The
Fundación del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, which also
runs the Escuela Internacional de Cine film school, is based
in San Antonio de los Baños.
Among Cuba’s many directors, who include Julio García
Espinosa, Manuel Octavio Gómez and Pastor Vega, there are
three outstanding names: Santiago Alvarez, who has made fine
documentaries; Humberto Solás, the late director of the classic
Lucía and of Cecilia; and the late Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, who
found fame abroad in 1993 thanks to Fresa y Chocolate
(Strawberry and Chocolate), which he made with Juan
Carlos Tabío, which courageously dealt with the themes
of homosexuality and dissent. Poster for the film Strawberry and Chocolate

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