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'''Azúcar amarga''' (English title - '''Bitter Sugar''') is a 1996 American-Dominican co-production directed by Cuban filmmaker [[Leon Ichaso]]. It was filmed in [[Santo Domingo]] and starred a cast of Cuban-American [[ |
'''Azúcar amarga''' (English title - '''Bitter Sugar''') is a 1996 American-Dominican co-production directed by Cuban filmmaker [[Leon Ichaso]]. It was filmed in [[Santo Domingo]] and starred a cast of Cuban-American [[émigré]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1997-06-06/bitter-sugar/ |title=Bitter Sugar |last1=Baumgarden |first1=Majorie |date=6 June 1997 |work=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |accessdate=16 August 2014}}</ref> |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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Revision as of 05:31, 16 August 2014
| Azúcar amarga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Leon Ichaso |
| Written by | Leon Ichaso |
Release date | 11 October 1996 |
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Countries | United States, Dominican Republic |
| Language | Spanish |
| Box office | US$450,060 (In USA only)[1] |
Azúcar amarga (English title - Bitter Sugar) is a 1996 American-Dominican co-production directed by Cuban filmmaker Leon Ichaso. It was filmed in Santo Domingo and starred a cast of Cuban-American émigrés.[2]
Plot
Gustavo, a patriotic Cuban communist, catches the eye of an attractive girl, Yolanda, at a rock concert where his brother Bobby is performing. Before he can approach her, the concert is broken up by police. Later Gustavo sees Yolanda in public, and befriends her. Gustavo tells his father Tomás, a psychiatrist widower, about his affections for Yolanda.
Yolanda and Gustavo disagree over Gustavo’s communist views; they agree not to talk about politics. Gustavo is granted a scholarship to study at the University in Prague. Bobby complains to Gustavo that the police will not return his band’s equipment, preaching to him about the lack of freedom in Cuba. In protest, Bobby and his band are disruptive in public, leading to their arrest. Gustavo and Yolanda enjoy each others company on the beach, though they are refused service at a bar that is for tourists only. A rich italian businessman, Claudio, buys them two beers out of sympathy.
Tomás informs Gustavo that he is reluctantly accepting a job as a pianist at a tourist bar, as it pays considerably more than his job as a professional psychiatrist, somewhat dismayed at the irony. Bobby is interrogated in prison, where he is beaten for his insubordination. Gustavo and Tomás bail him out. Yolanda is upset that Gustavo is leaving for Prague. She tells Gustavo that she dreams of living in Miami.
Bobby and his band deliberately infect themselves with HIV, stating if they have to choose between "socialism or death", a popular slogan in Cuban propaganda, they choose death. Gustavo and Tomás are horrified. Gustavo and Yolanda go to a cheap hotel so they can have sex. Gustavo is too depressed, however, instead talking about his problems. Yolanda leaves. Gustavo looks for Yolanda at her home, but she is not there. He later sees her getting into a car with Claudio.
Gustavo confronts Yolanda, who says Claudio just bought her dinner, and that nothing happened. Police come to arrest Bobby, on the grounds that he has AIDS. Gustavo and Tomás visit Bobby in the detainment camp for people infected with AIDS which he has been sent to. Bobby apologises for how his choice affected his family.
Gustavo, who eats leftovers in the kitchen where his father works as a pianist, sees Yolanda having dinner with Claudio through the kitchen window. Gustavo aggressively confronts Claudio, and is subsequently thrown out of the restaurant. The kitchen staff tell Gustavo that they see Yolanda there often, whoring herself out to tourists. Later Yolanda is seen crying in Claudio’s apartment. Claudio is sympathetic, but cannot convince her to stay with him. Tomás is fired from his job. Gustavo’s teacher tells him that due him attacking Claudio his scholarship is cancelled. Gustavo states he believes there never actually was a scholarship in the first place. His teacher admits there was no scholarship, but he had to pretend there was in order to keep his job.
Gustavo confronts Yolanda, who tells him Claudio has asked her to marry him, implying that she will accept for the financial security he can offer her. She asks Gustavo to forgive her. They spend the night together for the last time.
After being encouraged by Bobby to do so, Gustavo proposes to Yolanda. She accepts, but states she is leaving for Miami tomorrow, asking Gustavo to come with her. Gustavo refuses, stating things are so bad in Cuba because everybody leaves instead of fixing the problem. Yolanda and her parents board a rickety boat headed for Miami. Gustavo attends a speech made by Fidel Castro. A man in front of him has a pistol tucked into the back of his pants. Gustavo takes it, and runs towards where Castro is standing, aiming the gun at him. Gustavo is shot dead by a guard.
Text on screen informs the viewer that Yolanda and her family were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard, but finally were allowed to settle in America in August 1995. They currently live in Union City, New Jersey. Gustavo was declared a traitor, and the location of his remains are unknown. The film ends with old home-video footage showing Yolanda and Gustavo enjoying each others company on the beach.
Cast
- René Lavan (Gustavo)
- Mayte Vilán (Yolanda)
- Miguel Gutiérrez (Dr. Tomás Valdez)
- Larry Villanueva (Bobby)
- Luis Celeiro (Mr. García)
- Teresa Maria Rojas (Belkis)
- Orestes Matacena (Claudio)
- Caridad Ravelo (Soraya)
- Jorge Pupo (Yiyo)
- Victor Checo (Yolanda's Father)
Reception
The film earned $450,060 at the box office in The United States.
It was nominated for "Best Foreign Language Film" at the 1996 Golden Satellite Awards.[3] The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures listed the film as No. 3 in their top five foreign films of 1996.[4]
The Austin Chronicle gave the film 3 out of 5 stars.
References
- ^ "Bitter Sugar". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- ^ Baumgarden, Majorie (6 June 1997). "Bitter Sugar". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- ^ Baugh, Scott L (2012). Latino American Cinema. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 135. ISBN 978-0313380365. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ^ "Awards for 1996". National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
External links
- Azúcar amarga at IMDb
- Bitter Sugar at AllMovie
- Bitter Sugar (Azúcar Amarga) (1996) at Rotten Tomatoes
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