11th TDF: SURPRISE FILM (3/13/2009)

SURPRISE FILM

On Saturday at 20:00, 24 hours after the opening of the 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century, a surprise film is expected to stir vivid interest among the audience at the Olympion cinema.

The multi-award winning director Oliver Stone composes a meaningful portrait of Cuba’s emblematic political leader in his documentary Looking for Fidel, screening for the first time in Greece.

Fidel Castro found himself on the front pages of the international press in the spring of 2003 when he imposed repressive measures more severe than Cuba had seen in years. Following a wave of airplane highjackings, three guilty men are arrested and executed while more than 75 dissenters and journalists are condemned to jail terms of up to 25 years. In spite of critics, Oliver Stone returns to Cuba where he manages – as incredible as it seems – to speak with important players, to get interviews with the prisoners, their wives, leaders of dissenting organizations and those fighting for human rights. Looking for Fidel includes provocative discussions between the director and Castro about President Bush, Iraq and other important issues in international politics, shedding light on the particularly complex case of Cuba.