90 Miles 2003
Distributed by Frameline, 145 Ninth St., Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94103; 415-703-8650
Produced by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
Directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
VHS, color and b&w, 77 min.
Sr. High - Adult
American Studies, History, Latin American Studies, Sociology
Date Entered: 06/21/2005
Reviewed by Sean Patrick Knowlton, University of Colorado at Boulder90 Miles is a moving first-person account of the filmmaker’s life as a Cuban-born exile living in the United States and the circumstances that led him and his family to this country. Largely transcending politics, this documentary is a testament to the importance of family to Cubans both on and off the island. Specifically, it explores the impact of history and exile on family relationships in his Cuban-American family.
In 1980, President Castro announced that those Cubans wishing to leave were free to go. Between May and October of that year about 125,000 Cubans exited the country in what is now known as the Mariel Boatlift. As a thirteen year-old deeply compromised with the Revolution, Juan Carlos Zaldívar zestfully participated in the “acts of hate” in which supporters of the Revolution harassed the would-be emigrants. When his father announced that they too would leave the island, Juan Carlos’ sense of family ties ultimately outweighed his dedication to the Revolution. Thus began his personal odyssey in the United States.
By means of historical news footage, home video, interviews and conversations that range from black and white to color and alternate between Spanish and English, Juan Carlos searches his family’s past for clues to his identity and closely explores his relationship with his father. To this end, he visits family members in Cuba where he reconnects with his hometown and feels first-hand the identical heartache of loss in those relatives who remained. As his visit coincides with the Elián González saga, he also questions who would he be had he remained in Cuba.
As a personal approach to the Cuban exile experience, this documentary focuses less on politics and history and more on the sociology of human interactions. Perhaps for this reason, it has been very well received by both Cuban-Americans and Cubans in Cuba.
All Spanish dialogue is subtitled in English and easy to read. The sound quality is excellent. As an educational tool, a study guide is available from the distributor and PBS offers supplementary pedagogical material on its P.O.V. web site.
Highly recommended for high school students, college students, adult viewers, and the libraries that serve them.
Awards:
- 2001 Louis Wolfson II Media History Center Award, Miami
- 2001 New York International Latino Film Festival, Best Documentary
- 2001 Festival de Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, Best Documentary, Havana, Cuba.