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Sons Of Cuba

4

It's an emotional tale of blood, sweat and tears for child boxers in Cuba...

Mar 11th 2010

Cuba produces the world’s most fearsome Olympic boxers. Why? Because training begins at 4am when you’re nine years old.

Brit director Andrew Lang’s astute and affectionate doc follows three talented tiny hit-men (the golden boy who lost in last year’s finals, the babe who lost his mother, the former dancer who hates to hurt people) through their punishing training program as they battle poverty and the pressure of Olympic dreams.

Blood, sweat and tears – check, check, check.

What catches you at an angle is the political left-hook, as we watch Castro fill the boys’ heads with Communism dogma on TV.
 

Film Details

  • tbc
  • UK Theatrical Release Date: March 19th 2010
  • Genre

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    • DRoberts

      Mar 25th 2010, 19:46

      5

      Pulls No Punches! 'Sons of Cuba' is surprisingly director Andrew Lang's début. Surprising because it maturely explores the shaky Cuban regime through the eyes of three young Cuban boxers without romanticising their lives or Cuba. Lang apparently gained unprecedented access to the Havana boxing club by working with a Cuban film crew. This shows through in the conflicting emotions of the boys caught on film. The tears after they are pushed harder in training, the joy of winning fights, the care free playing in their dorms and the seriousness with which they watch the televised announcement of Castro's ill health all highlight the conflict in these boy's lives in and out of the ring. This empathetic yet unflinching portrayal, set within a historically critical setting, also benefits from superbly paced editing and a great sound track. Everything a great documentary should be!

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