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Cuban Dreams
Feature Length Documentary
Produced and Directed by Gail Reaben
Synopsis
Cuban Dreams will be a feature length documentary exploring the dreams of the Cuban people.
With the resignation of Fidel Castro and the election of Raul Castro, the country is on the precipice of change.
Perhaps their dreams are as well. Against a backdrop frozen in time from the 1950’s, this film will ask those
questions and explore those dreams and aspirations through interviews. They will be done in the houses and
towns where they live and work and will include a variety of occupations and age groups.
Cuba's well known film school produces highly talented filmmakers. Their education and university attendance is
totally free, but do they have the freedom to write a script on any subject they want? What are their dreams?
Most Americans only know of the political aspects of this country. Little is known about the Cubans' daily lives and
what they dream about for themselves and their families. They live in a controlled society dominated by restriction
and economic hardship. Does living in this environment cause them to restrict those dreams or does the soul
always find a way to soar, no matter what kind of enclosure it finds itself?
After visiting Havana in January, I found so many interesting people and stories it will be difficult to narrow the
interviews down to make just one film. There are young men there who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles from the
1950's, passed down, like the old cars, from generation to generation. There are no auto or hardware stores in
Cuba so how have they been keeping them running for 60 years? And there's the vintage 1930's, 1940's,1950's
and 1960's cars still huffing and puffing on the road. At least 1/2 or more of them are from those eras. We will
talk to some of the owners, see their cars, where the live and what they dream of.
Filmed against the backdrop of a country still living and breathing an era long ago, and with cinematography rich
in color and beauty, we will explore the depths of their individual hearts and discover where their dreams lie. With
exciting Cuban music playing, the interviews will be alive with the unique beat of Cuba. It will be a film to be
remembered.
To see a complete Treatment of the film, click here:
Feature Length Documentary
Produced and Directed by Gail Reaben
Synopsis
Cuban Dreams will be a feature length documentary exploring the dreams of the Cuban people.
With the resignation of Fidel Castro and the election of Raul Castro, the country is on the precipice of change.
Perhaps their dreams are as well. Against a backdrop frozen in time from the 1950’s, this film will ask those
questions and explore those dreams and aspirations through interviews. They will be done in the houses and
towns where they live and work and will include a variety of occupations and age groups.
Cuba's well known film school produces highly talented filmmakers. Their education and university attendance is
totally free, but do they have the freedom to write a script on any subject they want? What are their dreams?
Most Americans only know of the political aspects of this country. Little is known about the Cubans' daily lives and
what they dream about for themselves and their families. They live in a controlled society dominated by restriction
and economic hardship. Does living in this environment cause them to restrict those dreams or does the soul
always find a way to soar, no matter what kind of enclosure it finds itself?
After visiting Havana in January, I found so many interesting people and stories it will be difficult to narrow the
interviews down to make just one film. There are young men there who ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles from the
1950's, passed down, like the old cars, from generation to generation. There are no auto or hardware stores in
Cuba so how have they been keeping them running for 60 years? And there's the vintage 1930's, 1940's,1950's
and 1960's cars still huffing and puffing on the road. At least 1/2 or more of them are from those eras. We will
talk to some of the owners, see their cars, where the live and what they dream of.
Filmed against the backdrop of a country still living and breathing an era long ago, and with cinematography rich
in color and beauty, we will explore the depths of their individual hearts and discover where their dreams lie. With
exciting Cuban music playing, the interviews will be alive with the unique beat of Cuba. It will be a film to be
remembered.
To see a complete Treatment of the film, click here:
Biography/Filmography
Gail Reaben is the Producer/Director of Be Bop Babies, winner of the
Platinum Remi Award, Best Documentary Short, Worldfest Film Festival,
2006. It screened internationally in 2007, including the Short Film Corner,
Cannes Film Festival. Be Bop Babies was selected, in 2007, for PBS’ The
Territory, a series of 13 short films chosen from international submissions.
This June, it will screen at a film festival in Toronto.
Reaben has a B.A. in Art from The University of St. Thomas, is an award
winning painter as well as a published writer of mystical phenomenon.
To see more of our creative team, click here for more Bios.
Gail Reaben is the Producer/Director of Be Bop Babies, winner of the
Platinum Remi Award, Best Documentary Short, Worldfest Film Festival,
2006. It screened internationally in 2007, including the Short Film Corner,
Cannes Film Festival. Be Bop Babies was selected, in 2007, for PBS’ The
Territory, a series of 13 short films chosen from international submissions.
This June, it will screen at a film festival in Toronto.
Reaben has a B.A. in Art from The University of St. Thomas, is an award
winning painter as well as a published writer of mystical phenomenon.
To see more of our creative team, click here for more Bios.
| Gail Reaben |
Thank you for visiting our
new site for Cuban
Dreams. We are just now
getting it up and running so
there will be frequent
changes as we get it
designed . . . so check back
soon for further information
and new developments!
new site for Cuban
Dreams. We are just now
getting it up and running so
there will be frequent
changes as we get it
designed . . . so check back
soon for further information
and new developments!
| How will this film be funded? How can You help? Click Here |
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A Cuban musician from the OKAY
Band in Havana. Great music.
Band in Havana. Great music.
PIcking tobacco leaves which will
eventually become hand rolled
cigars.
eventually become hand rolled
cigars.
In Cuba, there are no clothes
dryers so all laundry is dried
outside.
dryers so all laundry is dried
outside.
Example of Havana's historical
architecture.
architecture.
The Malecon, Habana's sea wall where young
couples spend their evenings looking out to sea,
dreaming of their future.
couples spend their evenings looking out to sea,
dreaming of their future.
Vintage 1958 (?) Buick with leather
interior, now a Taxi!
interior, now a Taxi!
In a local restaurant, a large painting
of revolutionary, Che Guevara
of revolutionary, Che Guevara
Copyright 2008
Gail Reaben
All rights reserved
Gail Reaben
All rights reserved
Coming Soon!