Cuba’s Past and Future Collide

Read Time:4 Minute, 7 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Oceans Are the Real Continents (Los océanos son los verdaderos continentes)
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Genre: Drama
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 1h 59m
Director(s): Tommaso Santambrogio
Writer(s): Tommaso Santambrogio
Cast: Alexander Diego, Edith Ibarra, Frank Ernesto Lam, Alain Alain Alfonso González, Lola Amores, Jhon Steven Baldriche, Joel Casanova, Osvaldo Doimeadiós, Milagros Llanes Martinez
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
Where To Watch: opening in theaters beginning January 10, 2025, at New York’s Film Forum with additional markets to follow

RAVING REVIEW: As Tommaso Santambrogio unveils his directorial debut, THE OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS, viewers are transported into a cinematic vision that frames the small town of San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba, in stark black-and-white. This transforms the city from a mere backdrop to a formation embodying the unresolved tensions between Cuba’s storied past and its unstable future. The film's ambiance becomes as palpable as the emotions of its characters, each frame a canvas for the interplay of light and shadow that narrates stories without words.

Set against the desolate beauty of a town that time forgot, THE OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS explores the lives of its residents as they navigate the ruins of what was once a vibrant, pulsating community. Central to the story are Alex (Alexander Diego) and Edith (Edith Ibarra,) a couple whose lives in art and love reflect the broader societal decay and personal dilemmas they face daily. In a poignant contrast, we meet Milagros (Milagros Llanes Martinez,) an elderly vendor whose existence seems tethered to the fading memories encapsulated in the letters from a long-lost love, a life a stark emblem of the stasis that pervades her homeland.

Santambrogio’s proficiency is evident in the film’s pace—an intentional echo of slow cinema that invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the visual and emotional textures of the story. The deliberate minimalism in dialogue and the prolonged takes, pushing traditional storytelling's boundaries, allow the architecture and landscapes to speak volumes about the characters' internal turmoil and fleeting hopes. It’s a visual odyssey that challenges viewers to find beauty in decay and significance in silence.

The director crafts a pivotal moment through a scene that blurs the characters' realities with the artifice of performance. This beautifully orchestrated sequence reveals the layers of personal and collective aspirations. It sets a reflective tone for the unfolding drama, in which each character grapples with the desire for escape and belonging.

The film finds its voice in its black-and-white imagery. The high contrast sharpens the appeal and deepens the narrative’s emotional pull, turning Cuba's lush yet crumbling vistas into a powerful symbol of the nation’s rugged beauty and poignant struggle. This stylistic choice elevates the film, embedding it within the traditions of cinematic artistry while maintaining a fresh perspective on its themes.

As the narrative unfolds, THE OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS becomes a meditative piece on the universality of human experiences—longing, memory, and identity. Through its slow-paced rhythm and introspective silences, the film offers a unique cinematic experience that invites viewers to contemplate the lives of its characters and their places within the world. I have to point out that this will not be a film for everyone; the artistic aspects of the film are at the forefront, and they make you work for it at every moment.

THE OCEANS ARE THE REAL CONTINENTS is a meditation on the human condition. Santambrogio sensitively charts a course through the complexities of history and personal existence. The film promises a journey that remains with the audience, echoing in the quiet moments long after the credits roll. It is a testament to the enduring power of visual storytelling.

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[photo courtesy of FILM MOVEMENT]

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