Donate to finish EMBARGOED: Reclaiming Memories

Luis Perez is organising this fundraiser.

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Embargoed; Reclaiming Memories is a new work-in-progress film by Award-winning Documentary Filmmaker, Luis Perez Tolon.

A return to the childhood home and family hotel, embargoed in 1960 and now in ruins, triggers notions of EMBARGOED dreams, memories and family history, and questions ideals through the passage of time. Be part of this film, a poignant personal reflection of the definition of embargo, a word that sparks international controversy within Cuban-American debates.

The personal narration explores the embargoed memories and properties in ruin, the family separations, and the emotional embargo of exile. Starting with the archaic definition of embargo, “to seize a ship or goods for state service,” animated graphics depict a visual deconstruction of the dictionary definition and moves the story forward.

The film is based on footage filmed when my sisters and I returned to San Miguel de los Baños, a mineral springs resort town east of Havana where we had spent our early years. Seeing the family hotel in ruins, a surprise reunion with our nanny and visiting El Hatillo, the family ranch where we had lived a carefree life, we came face to face with the ghosts and dreams of our past and unexpectedly gave closure to our childhood. With a child’s innocent reasoning I asked myself: Whoever made decisions in Cuba let this town waste away, so, what use was embargoing hotel owners and my family’s properties and sending us into exile?

The funds will be used for the post-production process, editing, restoration of historical-family photographic material. Music, 2D graphics and global Internet launch.

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