Strawberry and Chocolate

Strawberry and Chocolate

Year: 1993

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: Spanish

Directors: Juan Carlos Tabío, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea

DramaComedyRelationship comedyEmotional LGBTQ relationshipsPowerful poetic and passionate drama

Set in 1979 Havana, a young Marxist student befriends Diego, a reclusive gay Catholic writer living in a decaying house. Their unlikely friendship forces the student to confront his beliefs as both confront homophobia, tolerance and identity in society. Adapted from Senel Paz’s short story, the film mixes humor with sharp social commentary.

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Timeline & Setting – Strawberry and Chocolate (1993)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Strawberry and Chocolate (1993). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1979

The story unfolds in 1979 Havana, during a period when Cuba was consolidating post-revolutionary authority. The regime’s censorship and social expectations frame how art, love, and dissent are navigated. The era is marked by pressure to conform, with characters attempting to live truthfully within a rigid political system.

Location

Havana, Cuba

Havana in 1979 is portrayed as a bustling urban center under tight political control, where surveillance and ideology shape daily life. The colonial streets and dense neighborhoods provide a backdrop for conflicts between personal desire and collective duty. The setting underscores the tension between revolutionary ideals and individual freedoms, especially around sexuality and expression.

🏙️ City 🇨🇺 Cuba 🧭 1979

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:43

Main Characters – Strawberry and Chocolate (1993)

Meet the key characters of Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Diego (Jorge Perugorría)

A gay Cuban artist in Havana who challenges the Castro regime’s stance on homosexuality and the censored cultural landscape. He pursues principled beliefs, and his friendship with David grows into something deeper as his ideals clash with political constraints.

🎨 Art 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ 🚫 Censorship

David (Vladimir Cruz)

A university student who initially agrees to spy on Diego for Miguel, while masking his true feelings. He wrestles with loyalty, desire, and truth, gradually embracing Diego’s principles and separating from the friend’s political agenda.

🎓 Student 🧭 Identity 🚫 Repression

Miguel (Francisco Gattorno)

David’s heterosexual classmate who uses him to monitor Diego. He embodies the hard line of communal loyalty and political calculation, contrasting with David’s evolving compassion and Diego’s integrity.

🗝️ Betrayal 🧭 Politics 💡 Loyalty

Nancy (Mirta Ibarra)

A resident who lives above Diego and becomes entangled in love and deception. She befriends David, later partakes in a plan to pair David with her, and ultimately shares in David’s first sexual experience.

💖 Romance 🛡️ Vigilance 🩺 Care

German (Joel Angelino)

Diego’s artist protégé and romantic partner, whose relationship with Diego becomes strained after professional friction. Their dynamic illustrates the personal toll of political and social constraints on artistic collaboration.

🎨 Art 🧭 Loyalty 🕊️ Freedom

Vivian (Marilyn Solaya)

David’s former lover who reappears seeking to rekindle a relationship, offering a glimpse into bourgeois desire and the complexities of pursuing love within a repressive society.

💍 Romance 💼 Bourgeoisie 🚫 Repression

Groom (Antonio Carmona)

The older, wealthier husband figure connected to Vivian, representing the class layer within the social fabric of 1979 Havana and the compromises demanded by the regime.

👔 Wealth 🏛️ Class 🗃️ Politics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:43

Major Themes – Strawberry and Chocolate (1993)

Explore the central themes of Strawberry and Chocolate (1993), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Identity Identity

The film centers on self-discovery under pressure: a university student and a gay artist confront how sexuality and loyalty intersect with political ideology. David’s evolving feelings for Diego challenge the rigid expectations of his circle and the state. Diego embodies a personal truth that clashes with the regime’s censorship, highlighting the cost of authenticity.

🗞️ Repression Repression

Censorship and political control are constant undercurrents. Diego’s art is blacklisted and his opportunities vanish as the state disciplines dissent. The museum confrontation and the social blacklist underscore how the revolutionary project can suppress individuality and artistic expression.

❤️ Love Love

Love crosses political lines as David and Diego form a complicated bond amid suspicion and surveillance. The evolving attraction tests friendship, loyalty, and the fear of exposure. The film ends with an intimate moment that leaves the future of their relationship unresolved.

🎨 Art Art Censorship

The narrative juxtaposes artistic ambition with political constraint. Diego’s creative work becomes a battleground where freedom of expression clashes with state control. The tensions around art reveal how cultural production can become a site of political struggle and personal risk.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:43

Unlock the Full Story of Strawberry and Chocolate

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Strawberry and Chocolate Summary

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Strawberry and Chocolate Summary

Strawberry and Chocolate Timeline

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Strawberry and Chocolate Timeline

More About Strawberry and Chocolate

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Strawberry and Chocolate (1993) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Strawberry and Chocolate (1993) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Strawberry and Chocolate (1993) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow