Jose Massip Wins 2012 Cuban Film Award
HAVANA TIMES, March 2 — Cuban filmmaker and essayist Jose Massip received the 2012 National Film Award here on Thursday in recognition of his outstanding career of over 50 years, reported the Prensa Latina news agency.
The jury — headed by actress Eslinda Nunez, director Gerardo Chijona, and photographer Raul Perez Ureta — unanimously awarded the prize to the founder of both the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Arts and Industry and the Nuestro Tiempo Cultural Society.
Massip, 86, worked closely with Julio Garcia Espinosa, Alfredo Guevara and Tomas Gutierrez Alea in the filming of the famous documentary “El megano.”
Standing out among his best known works is the documentary Historia de un ballet (Suite Yoruba) and Madina Boe. His overall work is marked by the treatment of Cuban national hero Jose Marti in films like Paginas del diario de Jose Marti and Los tiempos del joven Marti.
I am surprised no one has commented on this film.
I just started watching this film with English subtitles last night. Though a family crisis interrupted before it was finished, this film is so moving. It could not and would not have been made in the USA. Thought a fictional presentation, the realistic and sensitive portrayal of Marti’s youth in Cuba provides the setting to understand the compassionate and brave life he embarked upon at such an early age. Once again, thank you Cuba for your inspirational humanity.
I look forward tonight to return to the rest of the film tonight and a little understanding of why Marti is so important.