Duo’s Film Club - Fresa y chocolate

Martina Castro (0:04)

Hola, escucharás, soy Martina Castro, y no sé sobre ti, pero he has been loving Duos Film Club, the newest season of the Duolingo Spanish podcast. Today, we'll dive into the final episode of the series.

All season, we've been exploring some of the most iconic Spanish-language films, and whether you've seen them or not, you're going to learn what makes these movies so special. In our signature, bilingual format.

SPEAKER_2 (0:34)

No pude resistir la tentación. Me encanta la fresa.

Martina Castro (0:43)

I'll be honest, I hadn't seen this movie, Fresa y Chocolate, in ages. But I rewatched it for our film club. And it's definitely different from the other movies in this season. It's got a different pace and a different vibe. But it's a true gem of Cuban cinema. You might have heard of it because Fresa y Chocolate is one of the most well-known Cuban films around the world. And it's the only Cuban film that's ever been nominated for an Oscar.

SPEAKER_2 (1:11)

Uy, hoy es mi día de suerte. Encuentro maravillas.

Arianna Landaburo (1:18)

Es una película sobre el amor, pero sobre el amor en general. Amar a otra persona que tiene otras opiniones, otra actitud en la vida, otras ideas y otra sexualidad.

Martina Castro (1:34)

I'm very happy to welcome Arianna Landaburo, our special guest for today's episode. She's originally from Cuba and studied art history at la Universidad de la Havana. Lucky for us, she's a huge fan of this movie and she's going to share how it inspired filmmakers and viewers around the world. So you know what to do next. Grab some popcorn and get comfy because we're about to learn so much about this groundbreaking film. Please keep in mind that Fresa y Chocolate is rated R, but our episode today is suitable for listeners of all ages.

Before we talk about what makes this movie so special, let's review some essential Cuban history. The movie takes place in Havana, Cuba, or La Habana, in the late 1970s, about 20 years after Fidel Castro took power in the Cuban Revolution, or La Revolucion. It's important to remember Frisa y Chocolate was funded by the state and had to be approved, so it only reveals aspects of Cuban life that the regime allowed to be highlighted. It didn't touch issues that Cuban authorities have been reluctant to acknowledge, like racial discrimination. Here's Arianna.

Arianna Landaburo (2:55)

La revolución cubana comenzó en 1959 para destruir el gobierno del dictador Fulgencio Batista. Desde ese momento, hubo muchos cambios en todo el país. La historia de fresa y chocolate ocurre a finales de 1970 En este periodo, los efectos de la revolución se sentían mucho en la sociedad cubana.

Martina Castro (3:23)

Many people in Cuba embraced the revolution, its socialist ideals and policies. But others faced discrimination and were marginalized because they didn't completely follow the regime's policies, which, to be clear, were very homophobic. And we see that reflected in the two protagonists of fresa y chocolate. First, we meet David, a young university student who's passionate about the revolution. Then there's Diego. He's a middle-aged gay artist, and he's frustrated by the regime's censorship of the arts and persecution of the LGBTQ community.

Arianna Landaburo (4:01)

El personaje de Diego es increíble. Es un intelectual gay que ama la cultura de su país porque sabe muy bien que Cuba no es solo la revolución. Pero también es un revolucionario, porque cree que el arte puede cambiar las cosas. Y David es un chico que quiere ser escritor, pero su misión revolucionaria es más fuerte que él. Es un joven del Partido Comunista y heterosexual que cree en el gobierno.

Martina Castro (4:36)

They're basically polar opposites. Then, by chance, the two men meet at an ice cream shop. But after David learns that Diego's gay, he decides to spy on him. Because, again, David is part of the Communist Party, Partido Comunista, and he really believes in the revolution's ideals. The new government saw homosexuality as dangerous, so David feels it's his duty to report him. But after spending time together, an interesting dynamic develops between these two main characters.

Arianna Landaburo (5:09)

Durante toda la película se ve la tensión entre el deseo de Diego y la resistencia de David.

Martina Castro (5:20)

Now that we've covered the basic plot, let's explore why this film is so treasured. One reason is that it shows everyday life in Cuba in the 1970s, like the scene in the ice cream shop or heladería, where David and Diego meet. It's called Coppelia, and Arianna tells us it's one of her favorite spots in La Havana.

Arianna Landaburo (5:42)

Coppelia es muy importante en La Havana. Es un lugar increíble. Es una heladería enorme. El edificio es maravilloso. Y es especial. En Cuba, hace mucho calor. Y el helado es algo fresco. Esa era la heladería más grande que había. Entonces, la gente pasaba horas ahí esperando para comprar su helado.