Cuban Rafters (2002)
"Balseros" (original title)

The story of Cuban refugees who risked their lives in homemade rafts to reach the United States, and what life is like for those who succeed.

Directors:

Carles Bosch, Josep Maria Domènech

Writers:

Carles Bosch, David Trueba

Stars:

Guillermo Armas, Maria Celeste Arraras, Rafael Cano

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Guillermo Armas	...	Himself
Maria Celeste Arraras	...	Herself (archive footage)
Rafael Cano	...	Himself
Fidel Castro	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bill Clinton	...	Himself (archive footage)
Miriam Hernández	...	Herself

Storyline

The story of Cuban refugees who risked their lives in homemade rafts to reach the United States, and what life is like for those who succeed.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Bausan Films [es]

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Cuban Rafters

Filming Locations:

Cuba

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bausan Films, Buenavida Producciones S.L., Televisió de Catalunya (TV3)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)

User Reviews

Row. Row. Row. The Virgin will protect you.

After the withdrawal of Russian support in 1994, things got harder in Cuba. Fidel allowed anyone who wanted to leave to go. Thousands built crude rafts and left. This Oscar nominated documentary tells the story of a few.

The U.S. Coast Guard was ordered to take rescued Cubans to Guantanamo until a decision could be made regarding their disposition.

The story of those who made a new life, with it's ups and downs, in the U.S., and the difficulties families faced due to the split, was fascinating.

Some make it, some don't. Marriages are broken up and children are born. The reality of life here is brought home forcefully.

Pro or anti doesn't matter. What matter is the tough times these people had trying to make it in a foreign country without education or language skills. Was their life really better?