By ROBIN KEATS. Correspondent. Published in the
Asbury Park Press1/29/01
RED BANK -- A film chronicling the life of a gay writer exiled from Fidel
Castro's Cuba prompted weekend protests at the Clearview Red Bank Art Cinema.
About a half-dozen demonstrators, holding banners and placards that called
for a stop to the United States' trade and travel embargo against Cuba, picketed
yesterday and on Saturday.
"Before Night Falls," directed by Julian Schnabel, stars Javier
Bardem as writer Reinaldo Arenas. Johnny Depp plays two supporting roles; one of
a cross-dresser and the other as a military officer. It was the winner of the
grand prize at this year's Venice Film Festival.
"I haven't seen the movie, but I've been told there are a lot of lies
about Cuba (in it) and about how gay people are treated there," said
Harriet Bensen, a retired bookkeeper from Long Branch. "I'm here because
I've felt for a long time that our embargo is ridiculous."
She said Cubans under Fidel Castro "are better off with him even if
things are not perfect there."
Protester Allen Strasburger, Red Bank, objected to the film's portrayal of
how gays and lesbians are treated in Cuba.
"From what I understand, the film pretends that Cuba is not a country
that welcomes gays and lesbians; they do, especially if they are workers,"
said Strasburger who describes himself as a veteran protester and a Socialist
activist.
"Cuba needs international trade but not at the price that the United
States' ruling class wants them to pay," he said.
He also said that while he has not seen the film, he comes to the Clearview
often to see films, and this film brings attention to the U.S. boycott of Cuban
goods.
"Long live socialist Cuba," he chanted to passersby.
"I'm here today because this film is anti-Cuba," said Dorothy
Argyos, Neptune.
Argyos, a retired lawyer, said that the embargo is wrong.
"It keeps food and medicine from children," she said. "They
(the Cubans) have a right to decide what kind of government they have."
According to Marj Mercier, Red Bank, a ticket-taker at the theater, a group
of Cuban-Americans encountered the demonstrators yesterday and became incensed.
She said the Cuban-Americans told the demonstrators they should try
demonstrating against a film in Cuba and, "You would be shot."
Published on January 29, 2001
Copyright 1997-2001 INJersey.
Before
Night Falls (film's official site) | 