A Cuban mother residing in Peru captured attention on social media after sharing a video of her son’s first experience in a movie theater. The experience, typical for many children, was entirely new for the little boy, who posed smiling in front of the Mufasa movie poster and enjoyed every moment with his mother.
"In my country, there used to be lovely cinemas, but that plague of a system that destroys everything in its path has led to the ruin of the most beautiful places in Cuba, including the cinemas," the woman expressed in an emotional testimony. She recounts that in Cuba, her son had no places to go to enjoy himself, not even basic entertainment options like a movie on the big screen.
The mother, a TikTok user under @unacubanaenlimaperu, expressed her gratitude to the country that welcomed her: “Every opportunity here is magical for us... we are experiencing the world in all its splendor. As a family, watching a movie, enjoying the sound, the screen, a canchita as they call it here... it’s something we didn’t have in Cuba, and that’s why we value it so much.”
Reactions were swift. Hundreds of Peruvians celebrated the joy of the child and the gratitude of his mother. “Welcome to freedom, where with your effort you can enjoy the simplest things,” commented one user. Other Peruvians expressed their thanks for the words: “Thank you for appreciating what we have. Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are.”
There were also critical messages directed at the Cuban system and communism, as well as debates among Peruvians about the social reality of their country. Amid these voices, the creator of the video responded firmly: “My country was beautiful before 1959, but when that came, it destroyed our island. Never let yourselves be oppressed, always be free.”
This story adds to the experiences of Cubans who, from Peru, have shared how they rediscover the everyday with wonder. Just a few days ago, another Cuban expressed his surprise at the condition of the parks in Lima, describing them as “small urban jewels” that contrast with the lack of well-maintained public spaces on the island.
Also, Leandro Hernández, a young Cuban migrant who received asylum in Peru after being stranded at the Lima airport, shared how his stay allowed him to experience the “real world” outside the control and repression he faced in Cuba.
The experience of this Cuban boy in cinema, simple yet powerful, reflects the value of freedom, the small moments, and the possibility of living what once seemed impossible.
Filed under:
