`I am an obstinate dreamer'
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Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solas's creations have enriched Latin American cinema. He talks to S. R. ASHOK KUMAR about his work.
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HUMBERTO SOLAS from Cuba was the chairperson of the International jury of the Eighth International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Solas entered celluloid medium in 1960 but became popular after his debut feature film "Lucia" in 1968.
The film tells the story of three women from three different periods of Cuban history. His "Un Hombre de Exito" was the first Cuban film to be nominated for the Oscar for the Foreign Film category. Here are excerpts from the interview:
You are a legend. Tell us about the Cuban film industry?
It is going through a tough phase. . From the 12 or 14 films per year we made during the 1980s, we now produce barely four to five films a year.
Is Latin American Cinema, which your films have enriched, going in the right direction?
There were also the films by Glauber Rocha, Nelson Pereira dos Santos, Tomas Gutierrez Alea and other important filmmakers. Of course, we don't have masters of this stature now. But they will come as time passes.
Everybody has dreams. Has yours been fulfilled?
Yes, I still have dreams because I have not yet done my best film. And I have plenty of time. I am an obstinate dreamer.
Is your first film the best or do you have any other?
I love "Honey for Oshun". I love "A successful man". I also respect "The Century of Lights", "Cealia" and others. In life one's children are not equally beautiful or clever. But you love them all.
You have done co-productions also. Tell us its advantages and disadvantages?
I have been fortunate, because I never had that kind of co-producer who changed my script or determined the final cut. But that is not the experience of the majority of the filmmakers.
Cuban cinema has changed a lot from the time you entered the field till now. What do you anticipate in the future?
As I told you before, the struggle for identity, freedom and art quality will continue from other perspectives. Globalisation tries to destroy local identities and subjects everybody to a homogenous way of thinking and living. But this is not going to happen, definitely, because art and cinema are the warriors that preserve human authenticity.
Digital filmmaking is the future. What do you think of it and do you intend to do films in the digital format?
Digital is the only possibility, for our profession. You cannot go to a film school if you do not belong at least, to the middle class. But everybody has the right of access to cinema and digital begins to provide this possibility.
You are in the process of organising an international film festival in your country. What are your plans?
We already did the first edition of our festival and it was a wonderful experience. The festival is going to be the place for discovering new talents from the poorest sectors. This is a deep and intense humanistic idea, so our festival is going to be a success.
Finance is the biggest problem for filmmakers. How are you managing?
Drastically reducing the cost of production is the easiest way. Of course it depends on your script. It is also a moral option because you don't feel that you spend money that could be more appropriate for other social necessities.
Have you seen any Indian films and whom do you consider the best?
Satyajit Ray is for me one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. I have a debt of gratitude to this giant master, so I am organising a retrospective of his films in the new edition of my film festival, which is going to be held next year-end or at the beginning of 2005. I love also the films of another giant of India. I am talking of course about Mrinal Sen.
What about your forthcoming production and when do you intend to make it and release it?
My next film is about the humble habitants of my dear city. It is going to be a testimony of the hard days we are living now. I want to make an emotional or a severe film. The title is "Gente De Pueblo" (people of the village). I do not know if it is going to be a low budget film shot in digital format.
Politics and cinema are two important things in India. How about Cuba, does political problems affect cinema?
Every film is a political statement even if it is an entertaining one. As I told you before, you don't need to always have a political option, but a political consciousness is always going to be there, even if you do not recognise it. And truly, I believe that it is not politics, which affects cinema but it is the other way round. Artistic culture is the strongest expression of humanity, I'm sure.
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