Sons of Cuba

Invited

A hot Havana night and the punches are hitting hard in the outdoor ring. Cuba has ruled the world’s boxing ring for several decades. But in this match the boxers are only twelve years old.  At the Havana Boxing Academy, handpicked young athletes eat, sleep, and dream boxing as they train for a shot at a better life, the praise of their heroes, and the approval of their leader Fidel Castro. For the first time, a film crew is allowed inside to document the boys’ intense training regimen as they prepare for the national championship. We also follow them to school, where they learn about the glories of the Revolution, and home one night a week. Richly photographed and intimately told, Sons of Cuba shows us what it’s like to grow up in one of the world’s last communist states, where a win in the ring is a victory for La Revolucion. RYS

Director

Andrew Lang

Producers

Andrew Lang, Francine Heywood, Laura Giles, Mandy Chang

Editor

Simon Rose

Cinematographers

Andrew Lang, Domingo Triana

Release Year

2009

Festival Year

2009

Country

United Kingdom

Run Time

88 minutes

Premiere

World Premiere