Sons Of Cuba

Andrew Lang's first film ranks among the fairest portraits of Cuba by an outsider. Assembling an all-Cuban crew (including Domingo Triano, who worked on Memories of Underdevelopment) and granted full access to chronicle Havana's Boxing Academy, he shows the forces that drive the institution and by extension Cuban society. It is also a defining historical document, as it captures the anxiety created in the wake of Fidel Castro s retirement from office and withdrawal from public life. In its focus on three boys trained for Olympic Glory, Lang is able to evoke the complexity of contemporary Cuban society. Using the form of the observational documentary, interspersed with detailed interviews, Sons of Cuba portrays the various political and cultural influences that underlie a sport s role in society.

Mr. Bongo's definitive release of Sons of Cuba examines the film's production in detail, featuring an exclusive director's commentary. It also covers the release of the film, its impact following its successful reception in Cuba and around the world.