Cuba, 1961: 250,000 volunteers taught 700,000 people to read and write in one year. 100,000 of the teachers were under 18 years old. Over half were women. MAESTRA explores this story through the personal testimonies of the young women who went out to teach literacy in rural communities across the island – and found themselves deeply transformed in the process.
The Cuban Literacy Campaign is an important but little-known chapter in history. Catherine Murphy has created a project with rare and intimate access to this history. Her documentary MAESTRA brings together moving interviews with living witnesses, beautiful archival footage, and Catherine's compelling storytelling. – Howard Zinn
Screened as part of Raindance, Europe's largest independent film festival.
Maestra website: www.maestrathefilm.org Facebook page: www.facebook.com/maestrathefilm Interview with director Catherine Murphy from Michael Moore's Traverse City Festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmtFp22BZ4s
Cuba 50 