Strawberry and Chocolate (1993)

This Oscar nominated film is the story of two men who are opposites, one gay, the other straight, one a fierce communist, the other a fierce individualist, one suspicious, the other accepting, and how they come to love each other.

Directors:

Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabío

Writers:

Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (collaboration) (as T.G. Alea), Senel Paz (screenplay)

Stars:

Jorge Perugorría, Vladimir Cruz, Mirta Ibarra

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 25 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jorge Perugorría	...	Diego
Vladimir Cruz	...	David
Mirta Ibarra	...	Nancy
Francisco Gattorno	...	Miguel
Joel Angelino	...	German
Marilyn Solaya	...	Vivian
Andrés Cortina	...	Santero
Antonio Carmona	...	Groom
Ricardo Ávila	...	Taxi Driver (as Ricardo Avila)
María Elena del Toro	...	Passenger 1
Zolanda Oña	...	Passenger 2
Diana Iris del Puerto	...	Neighbor

Storyline

Diego, a cultivated, homosexual and skeptical young man, falls in love with a young heterosexual communist full of prejudices and doctrinal ideas. First come rejection and suspicion, but also fascination. Fresa y chocolate is a coming-of-age story, told through the development of a great friendship which overcomes incomprehension and intolerance.

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Plot Keywords:

communist | friendship | gay | chocolate | homosexual | 

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Taglines:

Savor the flavor

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief strong sexuality, and for language

Details

Country:

Cuba Mexico Spain USA

Language:

Spanish English French

Release Date:

20 January 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strawberry and Chocolate

Filming Locations:

Havana, Cuba

Box Office

Gross USA:

$2,080,805

Company Credits

Production Co:

Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC),Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE),TeleMadrid

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Black and White (archive footage: news broadcasts) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cuban's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 67th Academy Awards. As of 2014, it remains the only Cuban film to be nominated for an Oscar.

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Goofs

The blue Cadillac seen at the end of the film was not made until the 1987 model year.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: Just Cause/Billy Madison/The Brady Bunch Movie/Mr. Payback (1995)

User Reviews

The power of dramatic engagement

Any perceptive viewer of this film will recognize quickly what it does and does not represent. We can be easily misled by previews or trailers promising stereotypical characters or cheap thrills, designed only to attract attention. They can be a turn-off as well. In this case I was fortunate enough to get past the marketing and into what turned out to be a truly well-made and fascinating film of extraordinary literary dimensions.

First, it is a profoundly anti-fascist and anti-totalitarian tale. Internal references to famous Cuban writers and musicians frame every scene, while the players entertain us with character sketches involving such mundane things as romantic urges, kitsch as art, and ice cream. The action is fast-paced. One bit resolves itself into another with ease. Musical scoring and editing are appropriate in every way -- always a hallmark of any good film.

But it is great acting and great directing that put this one over the top into Oscar league contention. A true "must-see."