On Oct. 16, "Frenemies: Cuba and the U.S. Embargo," a documentary about the effects of the embargo, will screen at Tampa Theatre. A group of people who seem to be confused about the origin and purpose of the film are planning to protest it.
The protesters are convinced that the documentary—which explores the effects of the embargo from both Cuban and American perspectives— was created by communists.
Frenemies: Cuba and the U.S. Embargo
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. $10-$13
Tampa Theatre
711 N Franklin St., Tampa
tampatheatre.org
“The Tampa Theatre is planning on releasing a COMMUNIST film Frenemies: ‘Cuba and the U.S. Embargo’,” a post on the event page for the protest reads. “We cannot let these communists continue to poison our youth with lies about how great communism and socialism is.”
However, the documentary was not created or produced by communists. And, the documentary does not glorify socialism as they say, but instead focuses on the complex situation in Cuba, which the U.S. embargo plays a big role in.
“Frenemies’” seed money came from the "Ringling Towers Fund" in 2017, a competitive grant awarded by the Arts & Culture Alliance of Sarasota County for select projects. A small crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo was run by the director of the film, Mirella Martinelli, a Brazilian-born, a U.S. citizen and a long-time Florida resident. The Puffin Foundation, in addition to support from Moving Images and Long Distance Productions also financed the documentary.
“Frenemies aims to bring safe and healthy dialogue to the polarized issue of continuing to finance the longest running embargo, or ending it,” says Martinelli.
Set to the pulsating beats of Afro-Caribbean music, ”Frenemies” examines the fraught relationship between the island nation of Cuba and the U.S. The documentary blends 1950s archival footage with contemporary shots of Cuba’s economic struggles and vibrant culture. The film paints a vivid portrait of a nation fighting for survival against one of the world’s longest-running embargos.
But the merits and balance of the film haven’t kept those opposed to its release from telling lies about it.
On Sept. 15, a Canadian-based YouTuber who calls himself Darwin, went on a rant about the film, with many inaccuracies, Martinelli says.
In regard to the funding of the documentary, Darwin claimed that, "the Cuban dictatorship has financed this film" and that "this film is in favor of the Cuban dictatorship.”
Martinelli says these statements are completely false.
In “Frenemies,” several points of view are presented, with a range of opinions from its interviewees. From people who identify as "Fidelista" (those in favor of the Cuban government), to subjects who describe the Cuban political system as a dictatorship. Some Cubans living on the island testify to excessive economic control, as well as examples of how their freedom is curtailed in Cuba, for complex reasons.
As part of the documentary showing, a balanced debate with two panelists on each side of the embargo issue will take place. The debate will be moderated by the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa.
Tampa Theatre’s stance on the situation embraces freedom of expression.
“We are the community gathering place where many kinds of opinions and viewpoints can come together,” Jill Witecki, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Tampa Theatre, tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Witecki says Tampa Theatre is aware that there is a plan to protest the morning of Sept. 16, and that Tampa Police Department are also aware of it. “We plan on having security measures in place to make sure that the screening can peacefully happen,” says Witecki.
For Martinelli, her aim in directing the documentary was an effort to open up important dialogue, and she hopes people understand that so the misinformation about the film can be dispelled.
“This documentary involves freedom of expression and real stories from real people,” Martinelli told CL.
“Frenemies” took home the Audience Award at its premiere at the Dunedin International Film Festival and at the Oregon International Film Festival. The documentary also won the Social Impact Award at the Latino & Native American Film Festival and the Impact Award for Global Politics at The Most Important Films. It was a finalist for an Impact Pillar Award at the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival and received the Award of Excellence at the Docs Without Borders Film Festival.
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This article appears in Oct 14-21, 2021.