UNIV. OF MIAMI FILM SERIES: Che's Swahili Translator ?????

CHE..."ONE OF THE GREAT ICONS OF THE 20TH CENTURY?"




ANYONE GOING TO THIS PRESENTATION THIS FRIDAY SHOULD QUESTION THE ABOVE PHRASE USED IN THE PROMOTION OF THIS FILM (see below). A COOL AND COLLECTED MANNER OF QUESTIONING IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF MAKING A POINT... ANYONE IN THE EXILE COMMUNITY WHO KNEW CHE GUEVARA WOULD BE WISE TO GO AND EXPOSE CHE GUEVARA'S CRIMES WITH DATA...



WAS STALIN A "GREAT ICON"? WAS HITLER? MUSSOLINI?



LAIDA A. CARRO

Human Rights Defender

Coalition of Cuban-American Women



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http://www.as.miami.edu/clas/events/




About the Film





In April 1965, Freddy Ilanga, a fifteen-year-old Congolese youth became Che Guevara’s personal Swahili teacher and translator, during the latter’s secret mission in the Congo to train anti-Mobutu rebels. After seven intense months by Che Guevara’s side, the Cuban authorities sent Freddy to Cuba. During his early years, Freddy thought that his stay in Cuba would be temporary. However, 40 years passed during which time he lost all contact with his family and homeland. That is until 2003, when he received an unexpected phone call from Bukavu, his home town. His family had finally found him...



‘Che's Swahili Translator’ is a documentary about Freddy Ilanga, an African man whose life was abruptly transformed through a chance encounter with one of the great icons of the 20th Century and which has predominantly been determined by the power struggles of the Cold War and the Cuban Revolution. It is a story about migration and displacement and the high human costs of exile and family separation.



Freddy Ilanga: Che’s Swahili Translator

Director/Producer: Katrin Hansing

Cinematography: Armando Guerra and Waldo Capote

Picture Editors: Nicolas Calzada and Waldo Capote

Duration: 24 min.

Country/Year: South Africa/Cuba 2009

Language: Spanish with English subtitles



About the Film Series



“Cuba Scenes,” now in its third year, is a project of UM’s Center for Latin American Studies. It presents cutting edge films on contemporary Cuba which are US or Miami premieres offering a fresh look at what is going on in the island and diaspora. The directors are usually present, along with a panel of experts, for a post-screening discussion with the audience.



Contact: Dr. Lillian Manzor; Phone: 305.284.5585; Email: lmanzor@miami.edu





H/T to Joseito!