Dreaming of Julia (2003)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Juan Gerard

Writers:

Letvia Arza-Goderich (writer)
Juan Gerard (writer)

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

The year is 1958, and in Holguín, Cuba, a boy's world is about to change forever. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	Che
Iben Hjejle	...	Julia
Diana Bracho	...	Beta
Gael García Bernal	...	Ricky
Gabino Diego	...	Armín
Cecilia Suárez	...	Dulce
Aline Küppenheim	...	Katia
Daniel Lugo	...	Capt.Rosado
Andhy Méndez	...	The Boy
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Black Bum
Iván García	...	Mr.Marro
Marilyn Romero	...	Candita
Enrique Almirante	...	Piel Canela
Reynaldo Miravalles	...	Waldo
Enrique Jiménez	...	Papín

Also Known As:

Cuban Blood (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

USA:109 min (Palm Springs Film Festival)

Country:

USA | Germany | Dominican Republic

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Company:

Arza-Gerard 2 Films

Trivia:

Juan Gerard tried to film in Cuba, but was unable to obtain permission; hence the film was shot in the Dominican Republic.

Not good not too bad

If you're expecting to learn something about History and the Cuban Revolution, this is not the movie you want to see. The movie focuses on the life of a boy and how the events of the revolution affect his wealthy family. Since the events of the revolution are unexplained it could give the sense to the viewer that what happened is not complex. There are subtle criticisms of both Batista and Fidel but they are also left unexplained. The US role is not even mentioned. For those that don't know Cuban History, there is different versions of what happened in Cuba (Cubans have one version and Cuban-Americans have another).

Rating

5 - 1 for NOT making the movie in Spanish - 1 for NOT making the movie in Cuba - 1 for the mistakes in acting or directing - 1 for simplistic storyline - 1 for the lack of historical background and explanation + 1 for Harvey Keitel's talent + 1 for Gael Garcia's talent + 1 for having Gael as a Revolutionary + 1 for original story + 1 for having well rounded characters and not making it a Good vs. Evil

= 5

Some of the historic events that are recognized by the great majority of historians that can help as background:

- Batista was a dictator that used torture and widely spread violence to protect his regime and the wealth of the elites. - Fidel Castro had the support of the great majority of Cubans at the time of the Revolution - The revolutionary government did execute about 400 of Batista's close allies. - The revolutionary government did expropriate all the belongings of the wealthy class in the name of the general wealth being.