Sons Of Cuba

[MightyWarrior]

I'm not sure if it's getting a release here just yet, but the reviews have been excellent so you'd hope someone picks it up.

http://www.sonsofcuba.com/

SONS OF CUBA is the first feature for young director Andrew Lang and producers Francine Heywood, Laura Giles and Mandy Chang. It's been a real labour of love for all involved, but particularly Andrew who spent a year living in Cuba in order to gain unprecedented access to the legendary Havana Boxing Academy. This state institution breeds future boxing champions for the island that has dominated Olympic medals in the sport for the last few decades.

The film follows the stories of three young hopefuls through eight dramatic months of training and education as they prepare for the biggest event of their lives so far: Cuba's National Boxing Championship for Under-12s. But during the season, crisis strikes: Fidel Castro is taken ill and all of Cuba's Olympic boxing champions defect to the USA. As the championship draws closer, the Cuba that the boys have been taught to believe in is at an historic crossroads.

SONS OF CUBA has won 14 international awards including "Best Documentary" at the Rome International Film Festival, the "Youth Jury Award" at Sheffield Doc/Fest, and "Best Film on Latin American by a non-Latin American" at the recent Havana Film Festival, as well as picking up "Best Documentary" by the Foundation of New Latin American Cinema. Most recently, Andrew won the Jonathan Gili Award for Best Newcomer at the Grierson Trust: British Documentary Awards.

It's been described in the press as:

* "Affecting and entertaining. It has all the makings of an arthouse hit" Hollywood Reporter
* "A gem of a picture" Empire
* "As moving and insightful a film as you'll see this year" The Telegraph
* "Beautifully structured story of sacrifice, companionship, grief and glory" Time Out
* "A truly top notch documentary" Eye for Film

[Matt W]

It's reviewed in this month's BM. I bought it from HMV, it's very good and well worth getting. I half expected some military style regime but what shone through for me was how much the coaches cared about the boxers.

[markinmidd]

ive seen this .really enjoyed it, very cleverly done.They touch upon there top amatueur starrs going over to states,some interesting replies by the cubans.Uplifting film also.My daughter watched it with me an she enjoyed it also,she normally only watches the odd big fight and she luved it.

[MightyWarrior]

Oh yeah I forgot it was reviewed in BM, good review, except he gave away the ending I think. Needed a spoiler alert!