Cuban filmmaker Juan Pin Villar sent a letter to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel noting the apparent censorship of the documentary film regime Fito’s Havana.
The letter recalls that the Ministry of Culture banned the showing of the material at El Ciervo Encantado last April and shows that the filmmaker disagrees with the measure, which he describes as “a regrettable act that reflects a biased view of the documentary.” imposed and subordinated to testimony” describes from Fito Páez to the point of political questioning or historical credulity.
It is also said that the documentary was shot in Havana, as part of a conversation with the Argentine musician about the death of the troubadour Santiago Feliú and Juan Formell, director of Los Van Van.
“Sitting on a roof in Havana, we filmed what friendship and Cuba mean to Fito. What he injected into our veins: Another vision of the vast universe of possibilities that exist beyond the sea horizon, seen from the promenade of Havana,” he expresses in the letter, which we reproduce below.
Letter to Díaz-Canel from Juan Pin Vilar. Facebook
Pin Vilar assures that “the best solution to this disrespectful, mediocre and unfair action is to use the anonymity of an authority on behalf of the Ministry of Culture.” the screening of the documentary in the Chaplin cinemaas it coincides and has done with the other winning films of the Fund for the Promotion of Cuban Cinema.
The letter was sent to Díaz-Canel through established legal channels, and the author received notification that the complaint had been referred to the Ministry of Culture, the agency responsible for censorship.
“Havana, June 1, 2023. IV Pandemic year.
“Mr. President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
“The death of Santiago Feliú had a profound impact on the relationship that Fito Páez and I have had for many years. Our friendship goes far beyond parties and downloads and satisfies our curiosity about the most diverse topics of thought and life. We are two.” Friends who tell stories and feelings through art.
“For this reason, I have decided to leave young people an account of the wonderful, changing and intense life we lead, while paying homage to another friend that death has taken from us: Juan Formell.”
“We sat on a roof in Havana and filmed what friendship and Cuba mean to Fito. What he injected into our veins: Another vision of the vast universe of possibilities that exist beyond the sea horizon, seen from the Havana promenade. That outward gaze didn’t exist for the vast majority of young Cubans of my generation, simply because you couldn’t travel in our country, unless it was a matter of staying and living permanently in another country, or the government sent one. We couldn’t even have contact with foreigners, let alone enter a hotel. Let’s remember that back then there was no internet and no satellite telephony.
“Mr President, the ban on showing “Havana de Fito” confirms my thesis: what is being passed on to young people as a mistake was and is deliberate politics that continues to be carried out. And censorship is deplorable unless justified. A universal and pernicious cause for man, for his ethical values, “Havana de Fito” is not the case.
“The best solution to this disrespectful, mediocre and unfair action, from the anonymity of an authority on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, is the screening of the documentary at the Chaplin Cinema, as has been done with the rest of the winning films of the Fund for the Promotion of Cuban Cinema .
“Mr President, Fito Páez is my friend. I will not allow my silence to be used to lie to you with delays and arguments that legitimize absurd and out of context policies that only reinforce the media’s discrediting of our country for reasons beyond the scrutiny of citizens .
“Martí wrote: We will see the homeland that killed me.
“Juan Pin Vilar
Havana, May 26, 2023. IV Pandemic Year”.