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 Lista de espera (2000)

User Reviews

What a Wonderful Surprise!

Strawberry and Chocolate -- Wow this was a wonderful surprise and one of the better movies I've seen of late. Set in 90's Havana, this is a very real, believable story of a young homophobes first friendship with a gay man. I found the movie touching and funny and it reminded so much of many men I knew during my years in El Paso.

Diego, played wonderfully by Cuban actor Jorge Perugorria, is very attractive and yet easily the queeniest guy I've seen on film in years. I really enjoyed how comfortable he seemed in the role paying in between the male and female gender roles. This man has a passion for life that he expresses while being outside the mainstream. He does an excellent job of pulling off the crush in a believable way.

He has a horrible crush on David, a young Communist party member who is lured to Diego's apartment with the promise of some photos of Diego took of him while David was acting. No pictures materialized and the two develop a solid, respectful, platonic relationship.

This movie shows that gay and straight men can be friends. It also reminded me of many good times I had by making friends with people I normally wouldn't associate with. Queens are usually not my type...but then again, its a reminder to judge people by the content of their character rather than superficial appearances.

The film also explores Cuban's acceptance of Communism and the country's desire to remain outside the influence of American commercialism. I was very interested to see where Diego's anti-government rhetoric would get him and if the movie would have a moralistic 'gotcha' message at the end.

In reading about this movie it's pleasing to know that the director is a well-known and respected Cuban director (thus making it a bit easier to trust the movie) and the movie was well received in Cuba. Word is it helped to remove the stigma attached to homosexuality in Cuba.

I heartily recommend this film in a way I so rarely do. Easily in the same class as Priscilla for humanity and believability. This one is absolutely worth whatever it takes to find it.

Rating: 9 out of 10.