Guantanemera

The film, Guantanemera, is representative of Hispanic, and specifically Cuban culture. This film occurs across Cuba as the body of Yoyita is transported to Havana for burial. The strength of family, tradition of the funeral, religious influences, and the aspect of machismo are representative of the Hispanic culture. The types of music, elements of witchcraft, types of food and drink, and cigars are reflective of the Cuban culture.

Family dynamics are evident in several scenes in this film. Yoyita returning to visit with Gina, the devotion shown as Gina, Candido, and Adolfo (but for different reasons) accompany Yoyita's body to her final resting place express the strong family bonds of Hispanic culture that encompass even extended family.The traditions of Catholicism are evident in the many churches that are seen in the footage and the tradition of the funeral and burial. The machismo attitude of the men in this film exemplifies Hispanic culture. Adolfo's self-centeredness motivating him to create this relay system in funeral arrangements to elevate his status within the political system, his crass attitude toward Gina dictating the clothes she wore, the way she wore her hair, and his general lack of recognition of other's feelings (as seen when the laboring women needs transportation to a hospital) depict him as a "macho man". Mariano, with his women in every town and his action of running away from the one that claimed she was pregnant, also shows the machismo attitude.

Cuban cultural elements were reflected in the type of music in the film. Mambo and salsa rhythms were evident. Music in Cuban culture is an integration between Spanish and African cultures, creating a distinctive rhythm that is associated with the Caribbean area. Witchcraft is practiced by some in Cuba, depicted when Ramon blows cigar smoke on the tires and fans palm leaves at the truck for safe travel before they head out on their journey. The struggling Cuban economic system of the time is reflected in the dilapidated buildings, the closed shops, smuggling of foods like bananas and garlic due to rationing of food items, as well as the acceptance of only the dollar at some of the vendors throughout the country. The system of picking up people with no mode of travel I thought was interesting as apparently any open seat while traveling is fair game for the government to place someone in that seat. We see this when the truck takes on large groups of people and when Adolfo agrees to let Candido go on the funeral journey to occupy a seat, so they will not need to pick up another rider. Again, this shows Adolfo's self consumption. Coffee was a staple as the group traveled, as well as tea and rum. An interesting point I read was that the coffee that is served in Cuba is not usually that which is grown there, but is imported, as the coffee grown in Cuba is of such high quality, it is exported for profit. Cuban cigars are a historically notable commodity of the country.

Cultural elements were very evident in this film and added to the flavor of the story. Overall, I enjoyed this film and found it interesting the way culture was such an important aspect of how the film communicated this story.