Havana Libre Film Screening

615 West Ojai Avenue,Ojai CA 93023

06 March, 2022

Description

“Pure unbridled stoke, Havana Libre is a deeply moving story” — The Inertia Sponsored by Surfrider Ventura County | Presented by VORTEX Magazine in Ojai, CA A special screening of Havana Libre Never Stop SurfingOjai Rancho Inn | by the pool at Chief's Peak | SUN | 03.06.22 | 5:30-8:30 pm Following decades of cultural prohibitions, a group of Cubans rises and demands legitimacy for their beloved sport of surfing. In this inspiring story, they train to compete on the world stage with boards they built from scratch, reconcile with the country's tumultuous history, and attempt to overcome borders that have been blocked their entire lives. What would you risk to chase your dreams?In Cuba, where people fled Fidel Castro’s regime — overwater, en masse — to Miami, surfing and other such activities have been banned for decades. Surfing has existed in a murky legal gray area and is viewed with suspicion by the Cuban authorities. Despite these challenges, a group of passionate Cuban surfers is determined to carve out a place for surfing in the country’s culture of athletic excellence. Frank is the group’s de facto leader, and many regard him as the best surfer on the island. Yaya is a community leader determined to ensure that the next generation can surf freely. When announced as an official sport for the Olympics, Frank and Yaya see their chance to bring Cuban surfing out of the shadows and onto the world stage. What follows is a tale of underground surfers building their own boards — from scratch, from refrigerator doors — dodging the authorities as they travel the island of Cuba looking for breaks. Together they attempt to decriminalize their lifestyle, persuading the Cuban authorities to field an Olympic team. Frank is invited to participate in an Olympics qualifier event out of the country and must decide: Embark on an illegal journey, risking permanent separation from his wife and newborn baby to compete? Yaya is similarly torn when invited to participate in a surf symposium in Hawaii. Havana Libre is a story of people following their passion against great odds.