Fresa y chocolate (1994)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Directors:

Tomás Gutiérrez Alea
Juan Carlos Tabío

Writers:

Senel Paz (screenplay)
Senel Paz (story)

Release Date:

20 January 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

Diego, a cultivated, homosexual and skeptical young man, falls in love with a young heterosexual communist full of prejudices and doctrinary ideas...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Communist | Friendship | Chocolate | Homosexual

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 23 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jorge Perugorría	...	Diego
Vladimir Cruz	...	David
Mirta Ibarra	...	Nancy
Francisco Gattorno	...	Miguel
Joel Angelino	...	German
Marilyn Solaya	...	Vivian
Andrés Cortina	...	Santeria priest
Antonio Carmona	...	Boyfriend
Ricardo Ávila	...	Taxi driver
María Elena del Toro	...	Passenger
Zolanda Oña	...	Passenger
Diana Iris del Puerto	...	Neighbor

Also Known As:

Fresa y chocolate (Mexico) (Spain)
Strawberry and Chocolate

MPAA:

Rated R for brief strong sexuality, and for language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Cuba | Mexico | Spain | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:R21 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Germany:12 | Mexico:D | Peru:14 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Denmark:A

Filming Locations:

Havana, Cuba

Company:

Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lista de espera (2000)

Fine film, but Miramax's US version is cut

STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE (Fresa y Chocolate)

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Ultra-Stereo

Used as an unwitting pawn by his pro-revolutionary colleagues, a naive student (Vladmir Cruz) is encouraged to develop a platonic relationship with a flamboyant gay artist (Jorge Perugorria), whose political allegiances have fallen under suspicion. But as their friendship deepens, Cruz is transformed by Perugorria's resistance to the Cuban regime, even as the forces of oppression begin to close around them.

Based on a short story ('El Lobo, el Bosque y el Hombre Nuevo') by screenwriter Senel Paz, STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE is a joyous celebration of life and non-conformity, distinguished by Perugorria's vivid performance as a self-proclaimed 'outsider' who rejects his friend's unquestioning loyalty to the Cuban political system that is stifling their beloved homeland. Their budding relationship is complicated by Perugorria's unrequited love for Cruz, depicted here with dignity and compassion, though it's their political differences which ultimately unite the two characters, even as Perugorria is forced to reap the whirlwind of his public defiance. Also starring Mirta Ibarra as Perugorria's flaky neighbor, who introduces virginal Cruz to the joys of sexual liberation! It isn't a terribly cinematic film, but production values are solid, and the characters are played with such integrity, it hardly matters; this is a movie in which ideas take precedence over action, and the emotional payoff is quite powerful indeed. Beautiful music score by Jose Maria Vitier, too. Directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío.

NB. The original US version (released by Miramax) is missing approximately six minutes of footage. Absent material includes a brief conversation about racism during Cruz's first visit to Perugorria's apartment, and a sad little sequence in which the two characters pretend not to notice each other after meeting by accident in a bookstore.

(Spanish dialogue)