Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

hugoimdb When we hear about Cuba, what usually comes to mind is its communist regime. It's one of the traits that distinguish the island from the other Caribbean and Latin American countries in general. Therefore, when talking about a Cuban film, it's quite tempting to make some political remarks. That is unavoidable with "Fresa y Chocolate", a 1993 film that's loaded with political content, but without a clear sense of ideological propaganda against or in favour of the system.The story begins when a university student member of the Communist Party meets a gay artist who doesn't like the regime. Davi, the communist boy, with the support of a roommate who's also a party member, decides to investigate the life of Diego, the political dissident, with the aim of denouncing him to the authorities. However, the relationship between the informal investigator and the suspect assumes unexpected features, giving place to a sincere friendship that leads the naive Davi to understand and to learn how to deal with the subversive differences represented by Diego.Some subtle criticisms are made about the regime, whose authoritarian nature is exemplified by the episode in which Diego tries to obtain a permit for an art exhibition. The harmless sculptures made by his friend Germán are banned, and Diego feels the reason for that is simple: works of art that are free of ideological propaganda in favour of the regime have no place in the island of Fidel Castro.At home, Diego often has to turn on the radio at a volume high enough so the neighbours won't be able to hear some of his conversations that might sound like defying the official ideology. It might be seen as a criticism against the lack of freedom of thought that's typical of authoritarian regimes, but it might also be interpreted as a proof of the high popular support for that same regime: even your neighbors collaborate with the authorities in the repression of political dissent.Nevertheless, there's also place for apologetic comments about the regime, as when Davi emphasizes the fact that he can go to university despite being the son of peasant parents.Leaving aside the political element, the human relationship between Diego and Davi unfolds in a captivating and convincing way. Davi is the typical straight guy who fears having his masculinity shaken by the contact with gay men. But little by little he lets his defences fall down until he's open enough for creating a trustful and intimate relationship with his new friend.Meanwhile, Diego is an effeminate man who has an intense love for art in general and shows an atypical erudition. At first, he shows a strong sexual interest in Davi, but he soon realizes that the young communist man is an irreversible straight guy and then he stops his flirtatious behaviour and chooses to build a disinterested friendship instead.Some moments make it clear that homosexuality is frowned upon by the official ideology. Homophobic remarks are often made by Davi's communist roommate. He's even "accused" of having an affair with Diego. Davi himself asks Diego why his family didn't take him to the doctor as a child so he could be cured from that "endocrinal disease". Diego laughs and says that being gay is something that has happened since the dawn of the world, and that it doesn't prevent him from being a decent and patriotic person. But Davi insists that homosexuality prevents him from being a revolutionary."Fresa y Chocolate" is at the same time enjoyable and thought- provoking, and gives us an opportunity to observe a portrait of the Cuban society from a surprisingly impartial perspective.

Boba_Fett1138 This is a rather good and surprising Cuban movie, focusing on homosexuality in Communist Cuba. It's not the sort of movie you expect coming from Cuba and on top of that it also isn't a movie that stays on the surface but goes in into the subject real deep.It's not a movie that focuses on the physical relationship between the two main characters but more between the spiritual relationship of the two, which is a surprising approach. So, it's not a 'standard' movie about two man falling in love with each other, as you at first might expect when watching this movie. It's a movie that goes much deeper and therefor gets more layered, interesting and compelling to watch. It's great to see how the two of them grow toward each other, in a non-forced or formulaic way. It feels like a warm and very realistic movie, since it never chooses to diverse from its main plot-line and mainly focuses purely on the two main characters of the movie.Vladimir Cruz gives a good and realistic performance. But one thing that bothered me about him was that he was very popular in both male and female camp, which seemed weird and funny to me, since he really didn't looked like an handsome guy. But who knows, maybe this is the Cuban's idea of a pretty looking man. Jorge Perugorría also did a good job, although he performance as an homosexual character seemed a bit too feminine and over-the-top to me at certain points. He played the character like an obvious stereotype of a gay person but he did it in such a good and sincere way that it wasn't always a problem.I was also surprised by the look and overall atmosphere of the movie. Foreign movies, made outside of Cuba, always focus- and shows its visual beauty, of wide beaches, palms, beautiful music and people living there. It's a sort of an almost surreal and alternate world if you look at it. This movie is however more dark and gritty and shows the ugly side of Havana, both visually as with its themes and underlying comments.Some of the symbolism and underlying messages in the dialog are a bit too obvious, as if they were trying too hard, but this is perhaps the only real flaw in the movie its excellent story and directing of the movie.Don't know why the movie is often being regarded and treated as a comedy. It's above all an heavy drama but done in a light and more pleasant sort of way, but those are no reasons for me to regard this movie as a comedy. The movie uses the more European style and approach of the story and characters. So be sure what to expect when watching this movie.A great and relevant movie because of its themes, and I assume also a big step forward for gay-right and tolerance in Cuba.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

jaffar-1 This is undoubtedly one of the greatest Cuban films of the last two decades, Tomas Gutierrez Alea "titón" was an excellent film director that took part in many of Cuban most awarded films ever and he's for so much in Cuban top 10 directors list. About Perugorria "Pichi" he's one Cuban most largely known actors of the time and has proved to be a never static actor, never stereotyped actor, ... The film aboard one big truth, not just a Cuban one but a latinamerican one, the macho men thinking way that has to do with everyone's way of interacting in society. The film captures a particular stage on Cuban history when homosexuality was mistreated even at high levels and the prejudice set against homosexuals was really strong, even more on men because of the imperant Latin "machismo". This is just a gift both for cinema lovers and for those that loves Cuba and Cubans.

meitschi A beautiful movie for the heart. One of the most wonderful stories of friendship ever told.Jorge Perugorría as Diego is amazing. (I'd well like to see some of his other work.) It is most astonishing to see how his character develops from the limp-wristed cliché gay at the beginning to a fascinating man who gets in conflict with the regime because he is different on every level from what the system requires him to be: he is an independent spirit, a person with a genuine love for the arts, for literature, for music, he is disappointed by communist ideals - and he is also gay, by the way.Vladimir Cruz is also very fine as the young and naive David who discovers things through his friendship with Diego he'd never ever thought of: like discovering the beauty of things, of life, of poetry and music... And also being committed to another person, even though this person may seem very 'different' from oneself at first glance.The development of David's and Diego's friendship is fascinating (I wouldn't interpret anything more into it, not even in the final scene). This is also a "coming of age" tale, in a way: by his friendship with Diego, David begins to think, develops a maturity of spirit - and is also, at last, able to develop a loving and mature relationship with a woman. It is very sweet when he tells Diego: "No-one will hurt her. She is with me."A true gem of a film. I recommend it to everyone.