Los Ninjas, insight into modern Cuba

Abstract

Los Ninjas, an insight into modern day Cuba, is an informative, yet whimsical short film created with pictures and video footage taken by one of the presenters in December of 2011 while travelling on a restricted travel visa issued by the US State Department. The film is the collaborative work of three Wright State students enrolled in an advanced Spanish conversation class taught by Damaris E. Serrano G., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languages. The film skillfully captures the attention of the audience through slap stick comedy and the story of two martial arts students who are being trained to be ninjas. As part of their training, they end up in Cuba where they document many interesting cultural aspects unique to modern day Cuba. Few countries in the world have continued to evoke such strong emotion and opinion amongst the population of the United States as Cuba. This is in large part due to its proximity to the United States and the remarkably tenacity of Fidel Castro to pursue the communist dream against extreme external pressures. Recognizing the strong emotions and political opinions that many people have in regard to the trade embargo that the United States has enforced against Cuba since 1961, the film remains nonpartisan and does not advance any political agenda. The film allows a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the Cuban people and their daily struggles to survive against great odds. Viewers are offered a unique opportunity to step into this forbidden land and interact with their mysterious neighbors to the south. The audience is left to draw their own conclusions about today’s Cuba, the often vilified country that has been so hated and so loved by so many for so long.