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

Fantastic and realistic summary of Cuba today

Although I was born in Miami, my family is from Cuba. When I visited the country of my parents 3 years ago (from Havana to Pinar Del Rio trips), I was overcome with a deep sadness as to how pitiful the international media has covered the plight of Cubans on the island. Finally! This movie captures it all too well and so realistically, so accurately, so heroically!

It's about time!

Regardless of how one feels about Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton and the changes the US has made on Cuba's refugee policies, the people of Cuba live in absolute misery. No other 3rd world country in the Western Hemisphere has so much misery as Cuba. Economic poverty is not Cuba's worst problem. Misery is! Everywhere I went people on the island of Cuba lived in misery, fear, mistrust, suspicion, a basic ethos are missing, a will to live is gone, anxiety, depression, loneliness, desperateness and more.

If you want to understand the situation in Cuba as it is today, watch this film.

Pity that Hollywood films in America don't report the truth as it is, without getting bogged down on their stupid political self-righteous statements from their comfortable palatial Hollywood homes.

Watch this movie. It's great!