The Blog
I’ve been watching a lot of films about Cuba recently, as part of the research for my upcoming EXIT DESTINATION: CUBA project.
The latest one I’ve seen is UNFINISHED SPACES (available on iTunes) – a film about Cuba’s ambitious National Art Schools project, designed by three young artists in the wake of Castro’s Revolution. Neglected, nearly forgotten, then ultimately rediscovered as a visionary architectural masterpiece. The project started in 1961 on the grounds of a former golf course in Havana. The school’s first classes soon followed. As the dream of the Revolution quickly became a reality and Cuba’s comradeship with Soviet Russia tightened, construction was abruptly halted and the architects and their designs were deemed irrelevant. Forty years later Castro invited the exiled architects back to finish their unrealized dream.
While focusing on the architectural site, the film also tells the amazing story of Cuban public policy change over a 50-year time period. It features archival footage of the revolutionary enthusiasm and the reality which followed. It also gives a sense of possible positive outcome for the future of the country and the moderate changes we are witnessing today.
Together with producer Alex Daly, I had a short meeting with Unfinished Spaces’ director Alysa Nahmias today who gave us some very useful practical tips about our upcoming project. Once again – thanks a million and congrats on a great doc!
