Strawberry and Chocolate

In the summer of 1979, Havana swelters under the watchful eye of a revolutionary government that tightens its grip on every public square and private conversation. The city’s cracked façades and lively cafés pulse with a mixture of optimism and suspicion, creating a backdrop where humor flickers in the shadows of censorship and social change. The film captures this paradox with a light‑hearted yet razor‑sharp tone, letting the audience feel both the warmth of the streets and the chill of political scrutiny.

Into this world steps David, a fervent Marxist student whose ideals are as untested as the love he pursues. He navigates the university’s ideological halls while wrestling with personal longing, finding his convictions tested by the everyday compromises demanded by the regime. His intellectual rigor is matched by a restless curiosity, making him an unlikely observer of the contradictions that surround him.

A chance encounter introduces Diego, a reclusive gay Catholic writer living in a decaying house that mirrors his own sense of marginalization. An artist of words and images, he challenges the official narrative on sexuality and creative freedom, embodying a quiet defiance that both intrigues and unsettles those around him. His life, steeped in personal loss and clandestine expression, offers a stark contrast to the dogmatic certainty of David’s political schooling.

What blossoms is an unexpected friendship that forces both men to confront the boundaries of belief, identity, and tolerance. Their conversations weave together debates on communism, religion, and sexuality, laced with witty banter that softens the film’s sharper social commentary. As Havana continues its dance between revolution and routine, the pair move through a landscape where personal truth and public doctrine constantly collide, leaving the audience eager to see how each will reconcile the other’s world with their own.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 15:24