Irina Pino’s Diary

Nelson Mandela, the tireless fighter who struggled against apartheid in South Africa, is the star of the new traveling exhibition “Mandela 100”, at the Africa House on 157 Obrapia Street in Old Havana. It will be open to the public from May until August. (22 photos)

Rockers, metalheads and anyone who wanted to see and hear the band “Suicidal Tendencies” in Havana were in for a great night on May 11th at La Tropical, in the Benny More room. I believe Benny would have risen from his grave listening to these musicians and told them to be quiet because of all the noise they were making.

I recently had the chance to get to know Panama city, at a friend’s invitation, and I got to see a pleasant landscape where people are kind by nature, something which we see less and less every day. Violence between Cuban people can be seen in our everyday, in a line, on a bus, or maybe even in seemingly calm places.

Gerardo Chijona, the director of Adorables mentiras and Bolteto al paraiso, and co-director of the famous movie Strawberry and Chocolate, has directed a piece of garbage which should be wiped off the Cuban film map. I personally believe it’s a waste of money and time.

It’s hard for some men to assimilate the fact that women sometimes don’t want to respond to their sexual advances and try to sidestep them by saying that all they want is a friendship, that they don’t want to get into a relationship…

The uncertainty of what you might find when you return to your country of birth worries Cuban emigres, returning after years of being away. Carlos, a friend, almost a brother to me, came to Havana to see his mother after 7 years of being apart.

I just presented my third collection of poems: “De las escaleras para abajo”, recently published by the Hermanos Loynaz publishing house from Pinar del Rio, on Sunday February 4th, at the Morro-Cabana fairground.

For some reason I don’t understand, people’s hopes begin with a new year. They hope to have health, achieve professional success, go on trips, always good things. But, our reality isn’t the things we want, but what can be seen in everyday events.

Between enthusiastic applause and gratitude, the Havana Medieval Festival came to end on January 21st at the Church of Santo Ángel Custodio, in Old Havana. Convened by the Ensemble Lauda, the event involved six days of concerts and lectures.

A new Cuban movie, “La Hoja de la Caleta”, premiered in the capital’s movie theaters over the past few days. Directed by the pair Jorge Campaneria and Mirta Gonzalez; they bring us the story of a boy who lives in a fishing village in Santa Cruz del Sur. His mother has left him and his father is one step away from becoming an alcoholic again.