Ciudad Libertad: a glimpse into the lives of Cuban skateboarders fighting for their scene.
It’s all too easy to take our scenes for granted. We are blessed with many intertwined communities, and even if they hate or clash, they are, at least, present.
For the group of Cuban skaters featured in Ciudad Libertad things are different. Against all the odds, they’re trying their best to establish a skate scene in their city, Havana, whose local government is ignoring their requests for local park over and over again.
Director Isaac Gale has employed an interesting style, using images, beautiful editing and emphatic music by Andrew Broder (Fog) to push the intensity of the struggle in just eight minutes. It captures the textures and colours of Havana, the vibe and the mentality of the local skaters. Americans Steve Nesser and Tabari Cook also make an appearance, and an original score by experimental DJ and producer Andrew Broder (Fog).
Our only qualms is that the film feels like it could have gone on much longer, but perhaps that’s the mark of a great piece of art; it leaves you wanting more. Clearly these guys in Cuba have established a scene of some sort, even if it small, and we wish them good luck for the future of their community.
