Film: Sons of Cuba | reviews, news & interviews
Film: Sons of Cuba
Film: Sons of Cuba
Pint-sized pugilists duke it out for the glory of the Fatherland in this emotional documentary
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Raging bullocks: Cuba's young boxing champions-in-waiting
Cuban boxers have always punched above their weight in the world arena: the little island has clocked up no fewer than 63 Olympic medals - 32 of them gold - in the last 40 years. Enjoying extraordinary access to the mysteries of the Havana Boxing Academy, this emotional documentary follows the fortunes of three ten-year-old lads over eight months as they submit to a punishing regimen of training for the National Boxing Championship. But, as with the best sports films, Sons of Cuba is about more than winning or losing. It's about more, even, than boxing itself.
Cuban boxers have always punched above their weight in the world arena: the little island has clocked up no fewer than 63 Olympic medals - 32 of them gold - in the last 40 years. Enjoying extraordinary access to the mysteries of the Havana Boxing Academy, this emotional documentary follows the fortunes of three ten-year-old lads over eight months as they submit to a punishing regimen of training for the National Boxing Championship. But, as with the best sports films, Sons of Cuba is about more than winning or losing. It's about more, even, than boxing itself.
Explore topics
Share this article
more Film
Fantastic Machine review - photography's story from one camera to 45 billion
Love it or hate it, the photographic image has ensnared us all
All You Need Is Death review - a future folk horror classic
Irish folkies seek a cursed ancient song in Paul Duane's impressive fiction debut
If Only I Could Hibernate review - kids in grinding poverty in Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian director Zoljargal Purevdash's compelling debut
The Book of Clarence review - larky jaunt through biblical epic territory
LaKeith Stanfield is impressively watchable as the Messiah's near-neighbour
Back to Black review - rock biopic with a loving but soft touch
Marisa Abela evokes the genius of Amy Winehouse, with a few warts minimised
Civil War review - God help America
A horrifying State of the Union address from Alex Garland
The Teachers' Lounge - teacher-pupil relationships under the microscope
Thoughtful, painful meditation on status, crime, and power
DVD/Blu-Ray: Priscilla
The disc extras smartly contextualise Sofia Coppola's eighth feature
Blu-ray: Happy End (Šťastný konec)
Technically brilliant black comedy hasn't aged well
Evil Does Not Exist review - Ryusuke Hamaguchi's nuanced follow-up to 'Drive My Car'
A parable about the perils of eco-tourism with a violent twist
Io Capitano review - gripping odyssey from Senegal to Italy
Matteo Garrone's Oscar-nominated drama of two teenage boys pursuing their dream
The Trouble with Jessica review - the London housing market wreaks havoc on a group of friends
Matt Winn directs a glossy cast in a black comedy that verges on farce
Add comment