El Viaje de Carol

I have to admit I was less than thrilled to watch this movie without subtitles, but amazed at how much I was able to understand without them.
Carol was such a great character. Her story was worth telling. Her maternal grandparents living so far away and not having a close relationship with them. Then to be thrown into living in a foreign country, though she spoke the language wonderfully, because her father was fighting in the war. Only then to lose her mother too, and then in the end her best friend as well.
She definitely represented the cold climate with her behaviors. She was not willing to conform to the society's ways, she was not afraid to fight for her things, her diary, her hat. She had a wonderful spirit and lived true to it.
I thought she handled every situation in stride. She developed a wonderful relationship with her grandfatherm and he with her. I would have enjoyed understanding their conversation, in particular the one when he goes out looking for her only to find her high in the tree. Surely not where he expected her to be.
Would have enjoyed this movie with subtitles.

Volver

WOW! I really liked this movie! Each woman in this movie played such a different personality, and yet they all twined together needing each other.
Raimunda had the unthinkable happen to her during her childhood, being sexually abused by her own father and then having to bear his child. And raising that child with such love and caring, she is truley amazing.
Her sister, afraid of her own shadow, relies on Raimunda to help her get through her family life. Yet she is intelligent as is shown by her running her own beauty shop from her home. I love that she is the one her mother decides to confide in considering she is terrified of 'dead' people.
Her mother is quite the funny character. When she was hiding in the trunk of the car and agrees she is her own ghost, just so her daughter will let her out, that was priceless. She has gone through her own hell, having her husband cheat on her with her own friend, and then learning of him sexually abusing Raimunda, and that her grandaughter was fathered by her cheating husband. How courageous of her to take this matter into her own hands by burning down the cottage with him and his lover inside, and then how smart to play her own ghost. Thus allowing her to care for her sister and know her daughters are well.
The friend who is diagnosed with cancer and her desire, to find out the truth about her mother, that drives her to continue on in life. All the while she cares for her neighbor, the ailing aunt of her friends. She was such a kind womanand unselfish woman.
Last but not least, Raimunda's neighbors, they plain and simple brought comedy to the film, and yet it was clear they struggled to make a living.
Great movie, hope the remaining films are as good.

Guantanamera

This movie begins with 2 women, Gina and her Aunt, in a car driving through the streets of an apparent run down city. The aunt has obviously been gone for a while based on their conversation noting the changes since she last saw it, and she also mentions names of people who have abandoned their homes.
Also in then beginning we see a meeting taking place where a group of people are unable to agree on what appears to be a very hot topic. As we learn from their arguing, this group of people is trying to decide where a person should be buried when they die assuming they die in a part of the country they are not from. Adolfo, comes up with a plan that he will soon put to the test and because he is 'Macho' he is of course sure this is the best and only way to handle these situations.
The Cuban culture is represented through family and friends connections. When Gina's aunt passes she and Adolfo and her aunt's true love together accompany her body to it's final resting place, Havanah. Along the road many interesting things are noted, common items being sold along the streets. A woman in labor needing assistance to a hospital. Gina runs into a man who was once her student, and coincidentally loved her and told her in a note.
After reading a few blogs I am surprised to see no reference to the little girl 'death' that followed along in this movie. Who was she and did she have any connection to this family?

The Official Story

I really liked this movie, but I think it should be titled "The To Be Continued Story'. It left me unclear of what Gaby's future and her parent's future held in store for them.

I feel Gaby's future was hopeless until Alicia's husband brought her their home. Her parents were gone, and he knew he and his wife could care for her and provide for her and most importantly love her. They provided hope for this child and a safe and healthy future.

Alicia obviously loved this child very much, so much she had to know where she came from. She wanted to do the right thing, but in the end, I don't think she could part with Gabby. What good would it have done to return her to her grandmother? I am not saying she couldn't be a part of Gaby's life, an important part even. Gaby only knew her mother and father as her mother and father. How would anyone tell a child we aren't your real parents, and your biological parents were murdered and now go live with your grandmother. She is too young to understand this.

Is it the right thing to find out the truth? Maybe. Alicia now knows how Gaby came to be hers, what she doesn't understand is her husband did this out of love for his wife. Was it the correct thing to do? Who is to say. We are to assume he knew where she came from, but did he know who her family was to return the child to her grandmother? Who knows.

Does Gaby go to her grandmother? Does she stay with her mother? Does she stay with her father? Where did Alicia go? Do they reunite? We will never know....I am left with so many questions