The 26th edition of the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema (BAFICI) awarded the Jury's Special Prize in the Vanguard and Gender competition to the documentary Chronicles of the Absurd (2024), by Cuban filmmaker Miguel Coyula.
In his Facebook profile, Coyula shared part of the jury's argumentation, which highlighted that the documentary "artistically narrates the downfall of the Cuban nation, though it depends on one's perspective; for while it details the filth of the Castro regime in its processes of repression, the creation of degenerate officials, and the promotion of abject values, it is also true that it emphasizes humanity's resistance to such a perverse hegemony, and that is the contrasting message: a message of hope and repair."
Filmed with hidden recordings, the 77-minute audiovisual shows the reality of independent artists in Cuba, subjected to state control and harassment.
Chronicle of an Oppressive System
The film recounts the experience of Coyula and actress Lynn Cruz starting in 2011, when they began an artistic and personal collaboration that led them to document multiple unsettling interactions both artists have had with a wide range of institutions and individuals, in a truly Kafkaesque style, even outside of Cuba.
In 10 elliptical chapters, Chronicles of the Absurd tells this story primarily through audio recordings, often made in secret.
The synopsis of the Cuban Audiovisual Digital Encyclopedia (ENDAC) emphasizes that “in Cuba, artists must be recognized by state institutions to have income and rights. Existing as an independent means facing control and intimidation.”
“The textual transcriptions, displayed in graphic text that highlights the dynamics of the conversations, are combined with photographs of faces, logos, movie posters, and paintings by the Cuban artist Antonia Eiriz. The austere form reflects the hardships faced by Cuban filmmakers, whose freedom of expression is violated daily by a despotic system,” the text adds.
The absurd as protest
When analyzing the film, critic Álvaro Arroba noted: “There is an interrogation to which Ana de Armas's brother, a friend of Coyula and his wife, is subjected, who secretly records the audio of the conversation with the police. It is an exchange that encapsulates the idea of the title so well, that chronicle of the absurd that becomes the heart of the film, and which would not be as effective even if written down.”
Arroba recalled that "Coyula and Lynn are on the island, cornered, like true civil pariahs."
He reflected that the film "has a speed of 'networks', and with great ingenuity and imagination, it offers a very eloquent snapshot of what we might call the 'besieged intellectuality' of Cuba. In that scenario, every so often, someone loses their life."
Chronicles of the Absurd was showcased earlier this month at the 42nd Miami International Film Festival, and in the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the 30th International Documentary Festival It’s All True.
Graduated from the School of Film and Television in San Antonio de los Baños, Coyula (Havana, 1977) has directed, among others, Red Roaches (2003) - his first feature film - and Memories of Development (2010), conceived from the eponymous novel by Edmundo Desnoes, whose previous Memories of Underdevelopment inspired the acclaimed film by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea in 1968.
He also directed Nadie (2017), about the life of the poet Rafael Alcides, and Corazón Azul (2021), an alternative history depicting a Cuba where the experiment to create the “new man” to save Cuban socialism fails, leading to the emergence of highly dangerous individuals who threaten to plunge society into chaos and violence.
In 2023, Coyula reported the case of a Cuban elderly man who was expelled from his home by his son and involuntarily admitted to a nursing home, through a documentary that was also created using recordings of clandestine audio, as the regime does not allow videos to be made in public institutions.
The twenty-sixth edition of BAFICI took place from April 1 to 13. It is regarded as one of the most important independent film festivals in Latin America.
Frequently Asked Questions about the documentary "Chronicles of the Absurd" and censorship in Cuba
What award did the documentary "Crónicas del Absurdo" win?
The documentary "Crónicas del Absurdo" won the Special Jury Prize in the Avant-Garde and Gender competition at the Buenos Aires Independent Film Festival (BAFICI). This recognition highlights the film's ability to artistically portray the reality of repression in Cuba and its message of resistance and hope in the face of an oppressive regime.
What is the central theme of the documentary "Crónicas del Absurdo"?
The documentary focuses on state repression and control over independent artists in Cuba. Through hidden recordings, it showcases the challenges faced by filmmakers like Miguel Coyula and Lynn Cruz, who document their Kafkaesque experiences with repressive institutions on the island.
How does censorship affect Cuban cinema according to the Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers (ACC)?
Censorship in Cuba hinders creative freedom and limits thematic diversity in cinema. The Assembly of Cuban Filmmakers condemns the systematic exclusion of works that criticize the regime and the financial obstacles, reflecting an institutional fear of free ideas and a tendency to simplify reality through censorship.
Who is Miguel Coyula and what is his contribution to Cuban cinema?
Miguel Coyula is a Cuban filmmaker known for his critical stance toward the regime and his defense of artistic freedom. He has directed films such as "Cucarachas rojas," "Nadie," and "Corazón Azul," which address social and political issues from an alternative perspective to the official discourse in Cuba.
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