El Medico: The Cubaton Story

While watching El Medico at GothenburgFilmFestival i felt such joy and also such pain. Joy for the music and creativity on the streets of Cuba. Pain for the everyday struggle of the Cubans and how they are treated by the Danish man. The film is about a Cuban doctor. He is a doctor because his mother wants him to. But in his mind he is a artist. When he finish his daily work at the hospital he makes salsa music. When a foreigner hears his music the foreigners understand that he can be rich if he produces the doctors music.

But problems arise when they start promoting the doctors music. The sexy promotion is not liked by the Cuban government. And the doctors mother thinks that this is not god for the revolution.

Still many days after the film i am thinking of it. Still many days after the film i am dancing inside myself.

I saw this film at the Gothenburg film festival. The themes of the difficult track selection in life under the influence of ones family and friends, is really clear and engaging in this documentary. The act takes place in Cuba, but the basic human instincts are the same worldwide, regardless of politics.

Both El Medico/the artist and Michel/the music producer struggling much of the same things, ie bread on the table and the best for ones family. But they have totally different way to fight for it, crash is inevitable.

It started some sharp and interesting discussions in the cinema foaje immediately following the screening. That's promising and fresh. It was also amazing and fun to note that the movie appeals to audiences across age boundaries. I do not think anyone left the theater unmoved.

Strong movie! Must watch it again.