The finely drawn relationship between father and son mirrors the conflict between the Spanish colonial power and the suffering Cuban people.
Perez' technique:giving actors freedom to interpret their own role is reflected successfully by the two young actors playing Marti.
A further unusual aspect of the film, is the director dispensing with a musical sound track so that the audience instead become aware of the sounds experienced by Marti; birdsong in the forest, street noises, the sudden overwhelming experiemce of hearing an opera rehearsal, a powerful way of illustrating Marti's love of nature, music and his fellow beings, all part of his journey in pursuit of social justice.
Ann Cross
Cuba 50 