In October 1962, the world was at a standstill. In response to the failed invasion of Cuba by the United States, the Soviet Union began a buildup of offensive missiles on the island. The United States, in turn, imposed a blockade on Cuba and demanded that the Soviets dismantle their arms. After two tense weeks, the Soviets finally agreed, and in exchange, the Americans promised to never invade. This promise, however, never fully allayed Cuban fears of an attack …
An experimental short film that combines elements of documentary with fantasy to portray a surreal vision of Cuba, QUIENES SON? uses an "extraterrestrial" metaphor to look at the lighter side of a possible Cuban invasion. The film presents a set of testimonials regarding the appearance of "extraterrestrials" in the island. These sequences are woven together with the perspectives of the interviewer, and by the implied presence of the roaming intruder. Adding to this mixture are excerpts from Cuban radio that denounce the cultural and economical dominance of the United States, and a mysterious and spacey original score.
Cuba remains in a surreal zone, caught between the remnants of socialism and the harsh competitive reality of capitalism. Ever since the demise of the eastern bloc, Cuba has gone to great lenghts to continue adhering to its ideology while being forced to concede some reforms. The ensuing economic and social "invasion" has and will continue to cast profound changes as the country eventually clashes with its post-Castro future.
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TWN acknowledges that in New York we are on the unceded territory of the Lenni Lenape,
Canarsie, Shinecock, and Munsee peoples and challenges the harm that continues to
be inflicted upon Indigenous and People of Color communities here and abroad,
which is why we all need to be part of the struggle for rights, equality and justice.
TWN is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council
on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Color Congress, MOSAIC, New York Community Trust, Peace Development Fund, Ford Foundation, Golden Globe Foundation, Kolibri Foundation and individual donors.