Faith Strongheart | Havana / 2019

an escape artist who refuses to escape

by Douglas Messerli

 

Barbara Soares (screenplay), Faith Strongheart (director) Havana / 2019 [12 minutes]

 

The quite wonderful short gay film created by women should be show-cased with the many excellent films about gay Cuban life, including Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío’s 1993 film Strawberry and Chocolate, Julian Schnabel’s 2000 film, Before Night Falls and several other important movies. To group them, however, would diminish the power of their cries from the time in which they originally were released. The Cuban gay scene, representing some of the most noted writers in history, which included José Lezama Lima, Virgilio Piñera, Guy Cuevas, Severo Sarduy, Abelardo Estorino, Eduardo Machado, and Reinaldo Arenas was one of the richest and most fascinating developments in LGBTQ history, and itself would make a truly remarkable documentary feature.

   But this short doesn’t attempt to reach that level, simply focusing on a lowly immigration officer, Antonio (Ifeanyi Dike Jr.) who sells illegal visas at high prices in American dollars, although when they come short will also accept expensive possessions such as the watch his first customer gives him, the only memory of his father. He hides them away in his safe, now a fairly wealthy man, but unable to use the money to buy anything he might need given the restrictions of  Cuban society.

     Even worse, this man is in love and has a regular sexual relationship with a married man, Jian (Shaofei Chen), for who he lovingly cooks dinners, and waits for each night, as Jian slips off his ring, evidently not revealing to Antonio his bisexual transgressions. But this evening their meeting ends up differently, with Jian a late arrival. Despite Antonio’s attempt to begin their usual lovemaking, Jian resists. Finally admitting that he himself now needs one of his lover’s illegal visas.

     Their love is in jeopardy, and Antonio’s role a facilitator makes it even worse. For perhaps the first time ever, Antonio refuses, as Jian reminds him that he has asked him to leave Cuba with him so many times in the past, always with rejection. Jian claims that he’s received at offer in the US at a great hospital. But at that very moment, his wife enters, obviously quite pregnant. Her father manages the hospital.

    Betrayal, lies, the entire fraud of both of their lives is laid open for them to contemplate.

     An arranged marriage over which Jian feels he had no control, outrages his male lover, who argues that he can stay in Cuba and fight. Jian reminding him, however, that he too has hidden his life, both sexually and financially, arguing that both of them are cowards.

      When Jian attempts to pay him the required $200, Antonio now insists the price is $300 in retribution, the wife (Shenli Zhao) hardly being able to understand the two men’s relationship or what is being said. His wife is even willing to pay the extra $100, perhaps to simply not have either reveal the whole truth.

      But suddenly Antonio breaks down and declares he will join Jian, he’ll leave with all the money he saved up. They might have a wonderful life together. But it is quite clear Jian has committed himself to a life of closeted heterosexuality, given the demands of his parents and the society in which he lives. There is no longer any escape.

      He has no choice but to return to his safe with its piles of money and pull out another fraudulent visa, wishing, as he has to all others, “Have a good life.”

      Antonio is left alone in a Cuba of secrets, lies, and restrictions with now a handkerchief Jian has left behind, a wealthy man with nothing to spend it on except perhaps dreams of escape or release in the arms of another man.

       This is how such restrictive societies turn otherwise loving men into petty criminals, and empty shells of human beings.

       I should add that the music by Stephen Spies is truly impressive.

 

Los Angeles, December 5, 2024

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (December 2024).