Return to Cuba

(Volver a Cuba)
David Fabrega | Documentary

2016 | 78 minutes | Cuba, Canada

After 18 years living in Italy, Barbara Ramos returns to live in the town of Santa Clara, in Cuba, her homeland. Through the projects of family and friends, she discovers what has changed, what hasn’t, and what will likely never change in her country.

Migration Studies Culture + Identity History Caribbean Studies Sociology Economics + Social Class Issues Afro-Latin Studies Race + Ethnicity Latin American Studies
Synopsis

After 18 years living in Italy, Barbara Ramos returns to live in Cuba, her homeland. In the town of Santa Clara and through the projects of family and friends, she discovers what has changed, what hasn't, and what will likely never change in her country.

Shot over a period of three years - the time it took Barbara to build her dream house – Return to Cuba chronicles her life after Fidel Castro's era, in the wake of Raul Castro's liberal reforms and the reconciliation with the United States of America.

A light-hearted yet energetic movie, Return to Cuba demonstrates that finding happiness is possible again in today's Cuba!

Reviews

"Is the right to own a private business a concession of necessity or a response to outside influences?  Return to Cuba demonstrates the trust Cubans have in their system and the effect internal change has on Cuban life both socially & economically. I am most impressed with the fact that David Fabrega remains conjoint & illiberal throughout the documentary. This film is forever living history!" — Ms. S. Haysbert, Hampton University

"A love letter to a different Cuba than the all inclusive one." — Natalia Wysocka, Metro

"The film paints an insightful insider's view of Cuba, unlike the plethora of quaint travelogues or the oft-clichéd political analyses usually emanating from the country." — Bill Brownstein, Montréal Gazette

Citation
Main credits

Fabrega, David (film director)
Fabrega, David (film producer)
Ramos Prieto, Barbara (narrator)

Other credits

Cinematography, David Fabrega; editor, David Fabrega; music, Javier Asencio.


Citation
Cataloging
Keywords
Fidel Castro, Cuba, Havana, repression, communism, immigration, displacement, ; Culture, Identity, Family, Global Economy, Immigration, Exile, International Politics, Sociology, Women, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Raul Castro; "Return to Cuba"doc
Clips
No clips are available yet.
Festivals

Latin American Film Festival of Montréal
Africa World Documentary Film Festival

DIRECTOR: David Fabrega

NATIONALITY: Cuba, Canada

YEAR: 2016

GENRE: Documentary

LANGUAGE: Spanish

COLOR / B&W: Color

GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults

SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE

Existing customers, please log in to view this film.

New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.

Related Films

READ MORE

Fidelandia: Behind the Curtain of Cuba's Revolution

Documentary Cuba, United States
Fidelandia takes a look at the country’s culture post Fidel’s fifty-year reign, exploring how the youth deals with the influence of Western culture impacting the country by way of tourism, the use of illegal Internet, and television.
READ MORE

Calls from Moscow

Llamadas desde Moscú
Documentary Cuba, Germany, Norway
An apartment in Moscow becomes the stage for one day in the lives of four queer Cuban exiles, shortly before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine changes everything.
READ MORE

On the Roof

El techo
Comedy, Drama, Fiction, Romance Cuba, Nicaragua
A deliciously offbeat romantic comedy from Cuba, On the Roof doesn’t shy away from tackling the problems facing contemporary youth.
READ MORE

Fidel

Documentary United States
Just 9 years after Cuba's Revolution, filmmaker Saul Landau joined Fidel Castro in Cuba for an unprecedented interview for this classic documentary.
READ MORE

Everybody Leaves

Todos se van
Drama, Fiction, Romance Colombia, Cuba
A celebration of freedom and a confrontation of the authoritarian Cuban regime of the 1980s, which led to one of the country’s worst economic crises. The film is based on the award-winning novel by Cuban writer Wendy Guerra.
READ MORE

Heritage

Herencia
Documentary Spain
A showcase of modern Cuban culture and the centuries of history that precede it.
READ MORE

Horizons

Horizontes
Documentary Cuba, Switzerland
Alicia Alonso’s splendor still radiates throughout the world of ballet today. A star so brilliant, she has captivated audiences worldwide. Even now at the age of ninety, she continues to encourage the dreams of young dancers who seek to follow in her footsteps.
READ MORE

Song for Cuba

Documentary, Experimental Canada
A young Cuban couple chart a new course for themselves on an island in the North Atlantic.
READ MORE

The Foam of Days

La espuma de los días
Drama, Fiction Cuba, Mexico
Five years in the making, this Cuban story is about camaraderie, friendship, and the human being who lives daily in a reality that conditions him, but does not determine him.
READ MORE

The Eighth Floor

Le huitième étage, jours de révolte
Documentary, Drama Canada
The life of of Front de Libération du Québec's Jacques Lanctôt, on his return to Havana's Hotel Nacional— which sheltered him during his 1970s exile.
READ MORE

The Return

El regreso
Drama, Fiction, Comedy Costa Rica
A delightful and life-changing journey back to Costa Rica. After living 10 years in New York, 30 year-old Antonio returns to San José where he is forced to deal with the realities he ran away from
READ MORE

Lessons for Luca

Documentary The Netherlands
In this mesmerizing family saga, a personal story is inseparably intertwined with the history of Cuba when a farmer gets a six-year sentence for selling his own cow.
READ MORE

The Cuban Wives

Las esposas cubanas
Documentary Cuba
The compelling and tragic story of five Cuban intelligence agents who were arrested in the US in 1998 for their attempt to protect their country from terrorist attacks of paramilitary organizations operating from Miami. Essential viewing for the understanding of U.S.-Cuba relations.
READ MORE

Tania Libre

Tania libre
Documentary Cuba, United States, Germany
In a fascinating and novel approach, Lynn Hershman Leeson allows us to eavesdrop on one of the world’s most celebrated—and daring—Cuban artists, Tania Bruguera’s session with Dr. Frank Ochberg, a New York-based psychiatrist and pioneer in post-traumatic stress disorder and the Stockholm syndrome.
READ MORE

Dicing with Death, Ep. 05 - Cuba: Viva la Vida

Cuba: Viva la vida
Documentary, Series France
In Cuba, no matter the obstacles, people keep smiling and moving forward.
READ MORE

The Travel Agent

Pequeñas mentiras piadosas
Documentary Cuba, Spain, Italy
From her tiny office overlooking the U.S. Interests Section, 58-year old Lourdes counsels thousands of Cubans seeking a U.S. travel visas. She coaches them on answering tricky questions, fine-tuning their stories so they have a better chance of succeeding.

Related Collections

Our Essential 100 Titles

A hand-picked selection of our must-have films showcasing the very best of Spanish, Latin American and Latinx cinema.

Number of titles: 100

SEE COLLECTION >
Afro-Latin Narratives

Unveiling Afro-Latin America: their culture, challenges, and the profound contributions of their communities.

Number of titles: 74

SEE COLLECTION >
Labor Lens: Work and Society

A cinematic exploration of the complexities, struggles, and triumphs of the working world, showcasing the diverse narratives and experiences that shape our understanding of labor and its context.

Number of titles: 238

SEE COLLECTION >
Documentary Chronicles

A truthful examination and captivating glimpse into the complexities of the region.

Number of titles: 430

SEE COLLECTION >
Women's Voices

These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.

Number of titles: 271

SEE COLLECTION >
The Pragda Complete Film Collection

The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.

Number of titles: 706

SEE COLLECTION >
Caribbean Narratives

Number of titles: 49

SEE COLLECTION >
Immigration and Exile

A captivating exploration of migration and exile experiences.

Number of titles: 131

SEE COLLECTION >
Spanish Language Films

A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.

Number of titles: 513

SEE COLLECTION >
High School Collection

Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.

Number of titles: 580

SEE COLLECTION >
Latinos Around the World

A dynamic collection of films that illuminate the diverse experiences of Latinos as they travel, study, and establish roots around the world, bringing their vibrant culture and heritage to new and varied landscapes.

Number of titles: 25

SEE COLLECTION >