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by Hubert Sauper
grade: 8
Epicentro, Hubert Sauper’s newest work, is not only a film about Cuba, its present and its history. Composed of numerous micro-stories, it delves into the everyday life of the city’s inhabitants, deals with issues such as tourism and how it is observed by the locals, traces – and shows us through archive footage – the moments immediately following the death of Fidel Castro. All this makes for a work that completely captivates the spectator from the very first moment, making him feel like a main actor and not just an external observer of the events.
All the colours of Cuba
In 1898, the US ship USS Maine blew up near the port of Havana. This immediately became a pretext for the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, which, in turn, was decisive for Cuba’s history and present. But what are the thousand aspects of this small nation that has so much to tell? What does it mean to wander the streets of Havana, to listen to stories, to be guided by flavours, scents and suggestions? The director Hubert Sauper in his Epicentro – presented as an Austrian premiere at the Viennale 2020 – has attempted to make us live this experience first-hand, taking us by the hand into a world that few people really know.
The director’s camera moves along the streets and alleys of the city, almost as if it were our own perspective. At the same time, a warm, calm voice-over guides us into a completely new world. And invites us to finally let go, to be carried away by the magic. Some children are playing in the street. A little girl of about four years old, no longer able to find her little brothers and sisters – who have run away – cries and complains that nobody loves her. And immediately she captures all our sympathy. Then, like a miracle, the magic happens: on an enormous white sheet, the first films of Edison, Lumière and Méliès are projected. Film history is introduced for the first time to a group of children totally captivated by the images. The camera lingers on their enthusiastic, almost hypnotised faces. It almost reminds us of Godfrey Reggio’s intense and emotional Evidence (1995). Then, after a few minutes, we are ready to get to know many more new stories.
Epicentro is not only a film about Cuba, its present and its history. Epicentro is, in fact, made up of numerous micro-stories, it delves into the everyday life of the city’s inhabitants, it deals with issues such as tourism and how it is observed by the locals, it retraces – and shows us through archive footage – the moments immediately following the death of Fidel Castro. All this makes for an impressive work as rarely seen. A work that completely captivates the spectator from the very first moment, which – thanks also to the skilful use of voice over, which is never excessive or redundant – makes him immediately feel like a main actor and not simply like an external observer of the events.
Semi-deserted streets at night are, then, filmed by the camera through point-of-view shots. According to a tour guide, one can walk around Havana safely at night, the city is very safe and the crime rate is low. And the tourist, who experiences these places for the first time in his life, is immediately fascinated. At the same time, two young girls who dream of one day becoming photo models complain that tourists themselves observe them and their way of life with too much prejudice, due to their economic conditions. The presence of the United States is constantly felt, at times even intrusive.
Is there, then, an ideal way to experience and get to know Cuba as it deserves? Despite not having the opportunity to travel, Hubert Sauper has managed to create in his magnetic Epicentro a vivid, vibrant, colourful and incredibly multifaceted portrait of a world that, even after spending many and many years there, we could never say we really know. And it is precisely all these micro stories that give life to an enormous mosaic that, seen as a whole, immediately strikes us with its colours, with the power of its images. Just as black and white images from a bygone era would do, projected, today, onto an enormous white canvas.
Original title: Epicentro
Directed by: Hubert Sauper
Country/year: Austria, France, USA / 2020
Running time: 108’
Genre: documentary
Screenplay: Hubert Sauper
Cinematography: Hubert Sauper
Produced by: KGP Filmproduktion GmbH, Little Magnet Films, Wild Bunch