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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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(soft music playing)
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(traffic rumbling)
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(speaking Spanish on broadcast)
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(radio chatter in Spanish)
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(soft music continues)
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(dogs barking)
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Nanfu Wang:
This is a story about Cuba.
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(horse whinnying)
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But the story began
on the other side of the world,
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in China.
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(car horns honking)
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(people chattering)
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It was in China that
I started to wonder
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how people living
under authoritarianism
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could fight for change.
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(protestors shouting in Chinese)
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This question led me
to become a filmmaker
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and to travel far from home
to search for answers.
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(dramatic music playing)
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(wind howling)
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(tires screeching)
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After many years,
it led me
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to a young Cuban woman
named Rosa María Payá
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who seemed to be traveling
the same road as me.
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(dramatic music playing)
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("Piangi Con Me"
by The Rokes playing)
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(group singing and
chattering indistinctly)
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(cheering)
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(indistinct chatter continues)
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(Rosa speaking English)
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(music and chatter continues)
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(music stops playing)
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(subway car whooshing)
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(train PA announcement
in Chinese)
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Nanfu: Years before I met
Rosa María Payá,
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I was making
my first documentary...
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(horns honking)
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...filming a group of people
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speaking against
the Chinese government.
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(protestors shouting in Chinese)
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Nanfu: All of us
ended up facing arrest
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or physical violence.
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(speaker 1 speaking Chinese)
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(Nanfu speaking Chinese)
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(speaker 2 speaking Chinese)
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(train car clacking)
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Nanfu: I managed to get
the footage out of China
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and screened the film
around the world.
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(protestors shouting
in Chinese)
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It was at a film festival
that my path
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crossed with Rosa's.
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After the screening,
she approached me
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and said the film reminded her
of life in Cuba.
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We spent hours sharing stories
about our lives.
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We were both amazed
by how much our experiences
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seemed to reflect each other.
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After we met,
I scrolled through articles
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about Rosa and her father,
Oswaldo Payá.
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My father was five times
nominated
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to a Nobel Peace Prize.
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He proposed a solution
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to democratically
transform the system.
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(cameras clicking)
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(Oswaldo Payá speaking Spanish)
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(cheering and applause)
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Rosa María Payá:
The real goal of the regime
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was not just
to kill my father,
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was to kill his legacy.
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That's why they continue
the harassment
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against my family.
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Nanfu: When I met her,
her family
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had recently fled to Miami.
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But in spite of the danger,
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Rosa frequently
returned to Cuba
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to continue
her father's work.
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I was inspired
by her courage
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and dedication
to making change.
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I also wanted to see
how people
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fought against
the authoritarian government
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in Cuba compared to China.
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So, when she told me
she was returning to Cuba
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for a protest action
with a number of artists
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and activists there,
I followed along.
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(Rosa and Nanfu chattering)
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(driver and Rosa
speaking Spanish)
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(group conversing in Spanish)
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Nanfu:
When Rosa got home,
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many of her extended
family and friends
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were there waiting to see her,
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including one of her
closest friends, Saylí,
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who would work closely
with Rosa during this trip.
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(bell ringing)
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(TV playing indistinctly)
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(family and friends
speaking Spanish)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(laughing)
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(group continues talking
in Spanish)
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Nanfu: I was surprised
by how casually Rosa reacted
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to being detained
at the airport.
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Since making my first film,
I have felt nervous
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each time I've returned
to China.
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I never knew whether
I would be detained
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or if I would be prevented
from leaving the country.
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Cuba's government
also have this power,
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but Rosa didn't act like
a person who felt powerless.
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(people speaking Spanish
on car stereo)
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(salsa music playing on radio)
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(car horns honking)
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(indistinct chatter)
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(people laughing)
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Nanfu: This was my first time
ever visiting Cuba.
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The city felt like
it was frozen in time.
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But in spite of the feeling
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of being in a new,
unfamiliar place,
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I felt a strange feeling
of recognition
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as I walked around.
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It felt like déjà vu.
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(plane engine roaring)
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("The Internationale"
by Pierre De Geyter playing)
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(crowd cheering)
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(people singing
in native language)
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(applause)
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Nanfu: For most of my life,
all I knew about Cuba
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was that it was an island
of resistance
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to American imperialism.
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Growing up in China,
I learned in school
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that Cuba's
Communist Revolution
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was a mirror image of our own.
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(crowd applauding)
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(speaking Spanish)
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("The Internationale"
continues playing)
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Nanfu: As one of the last
surviving communist societies
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in the world,
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Cuba became known
to ordinary Chinese
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as our little buddy.
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- (dramatic music playing)
- (traffic noise, sirens blaring)
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It wasn't until I moved
to the U.S. as an adult
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that I was exposed
to the American narrative
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of Cuba's revolution.
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announcer:
Havana, 1959,
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Cuba was now a base
for international communism
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in the Western hemisphere.
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Now, your leaders
are no longer Cuban leaders.
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They are puppets and agents
of an international conspiracy.
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00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:55,089
Richard Nixon: We are
quarantining Mr. Castro today
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by cutting off trade,
by cutting off
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our diplomatic relations
as we have.
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We will quarantine this regime
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so that the people
of Cuba themselves
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will take care of Mr. Castro.
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(motor rumbling)
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news reporter 1:
Breaking news out of Havana,
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00:12:09,979 --> 00:12:11,563
the death of Fidel Castro.
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reporter 2:
To the end, Castro insisted
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his revolution would outlive...
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00:12:14,234 --> 00:12:15,984
reporter 3: Well, the question
is, what will change?
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00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:17,945
reporter 4: New questions arise
about how the country
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will change in the wake
of his death.
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(children chattering)
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(bike horn honking)
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Nanfu: The U.S. has kept
an economic embargo
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on Cuba since 1962.
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But in all those years,
it hasn't forced
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a regime change in the country.
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As I walked around Havana,
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signs of Castro's decades-long
rule were everywhere.
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00:12:42,846 --> 00:12:45,305
But at the same time,
it felt like the country
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could be on the brink
of transformation.
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reporter 1:
It is history in the making,
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President Obama in Cuba.
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reporter 2: A lot has changed
between the U.S. and Cuba.
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We've restored
diplomatic relations,
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our embassy reopened
for the first time...
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reporter 3: An American
cruise ship in Havana.
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reporter 4: Here come
the Rolling Stones.
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It's shaping up to be
a spectacle.
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00:13:01,197 --> 00:13:02,990
reporter 5:
This is a historical moment.
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This is the kind of country
Cuba is becoming.
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It's a changing place.
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(soft guitar music playing)
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(speaking English)
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(phone beeping)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(both conversing in Spanish)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(Lia Villares speaking Spanish)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(Lia speaking Spanish)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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reporter:
Danilo Maldonado Machado,
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a Cuban artist and activist
better known as El Sexto.
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He was arrested the morning
after Castro's death,
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hours after spray-painting
"He's gone" on a wall
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and creating this video.
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(Danilo speaking in Spanish)
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reporter:
As an outspoken dissident,
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he became international news
when he was arrested
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in Havana two years ago.
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The reason? Controversial art
that included the names
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of Fidel and Raul Castro
painted on live pigs.
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(Rosa speaking English)
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00:15:25,133 --> 00:15:27,385
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:15:32,557 --> 00:15:34,892
(cameras clicking)
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(Lia speaking Spanish)
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(rock music playing)
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(rock music ends)
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(group speaking Spanish)
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(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:16:41,501 --> 00:16:44,212
(Lia speaking Spanish)
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00:16:44,504 --> 00:16:46,548
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:55,724
(Lia speaking Spanish)
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00:16:58,184 --> 00:16:59,685
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:16:59,686 --> 00:17:01,813
(Lia speaking Spanish)
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00:17:10,030 --> 00:17:12,282
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:17:12,824 --> 00:17:14,617
(Lia speaking Spanish)
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00:17:19,497 --> 00:17:20,623
Okay.
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Nanfu:
While Danilo was in prison,
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00:17:24,127 --> 00:17:27,297
a photo of him was circulated
along with a note.
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00:17:28,798 --> 00:17:32,301
The photo showed a tattoo
of Rosa's father, Oswaldo,
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00:17:32,302 --> 00:17:35,513
which Danilo got
shortly after Oswaldo's death.
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00:17:37,891 --> 00:17:40,685
(Oswaldo speaking
Spanish on video)
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00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:10,756
(soft music playing)
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00:18:10,757 --> 00:18:12,841
(mouse clicking)
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00:18:12,842 --> 00:18:14,135
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:18:14,302 --> 00:18:17,430
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:32,529
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,411
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:18:56,761 --> 00:18:58,805
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:12,444
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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00:19:27,876 --> 00:19:29,168
(mouse clicking)
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00:19:29,169 --> 00:19:31,463
(waves crashing on video)
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00:19:32,797 --> 00:19:34,841
(Rosa speaking English)
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00:19:35,842 --> 00:19:37,886
(waves crashing)
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00:19:40,013 --> 00:19:42,390
(Ofelia Acevedo
speaking Spanish)
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00:19:47,270 --> 00:19:49,481
(people speaking Spanish)
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00:19:56,905 --> 00:19:58,614
(speaking Spanish)
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00:19:58,615 --> 00:20:00,742
(children laughing)
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00:20:03,161 --> 00:20:05,372
(Ofelia speaking Spanish)
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00:20:25,308 --> 00:20:26,893
(family speaking Spanish)
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00:20:37,278 --> 00:20:39,531
(curious music playing)
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00:20:52,877 --> 00:20:54,921
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:21:09,227 --> 00:21:11,353
(people chattering)
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00:21:11,354 --> 00:21:14,649
(music playing,
performers singing)
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00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:17,861
(rainfall pattering)
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00:21:18,069 --> 00:21:20,405
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:21:24,909 --> 00:21:26,578
(child shouting)
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00:21:30,081 --> 00:21:31,874
(waves crashing)
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00:21:31,875 --> 00:21:34,002
(speaking Spanish)
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00:21:35,795 --> 00:21:38,006
(singing in Spanish)
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00:21:41,426 --> 00:21:43,678
(dog barking)
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00:21:44,637 --> 00:21:46,890
(melancholy music playing)
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00:21:51,311 --> 00:21:53,563
(inaudible)
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00:21:56,107 --> 00:21:58,360
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:22:39,901 --> 00:22:40,985
(music fades out)
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00:23:03,133 --> 00:23:05,176
(interviewer speaking Spanish)
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00:23:10,682 --> 00:23:12,517
(Oswaldo speaking Spanish)
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00:23:33,163 --> 00:23:35,415
(speaking Spanish)
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00:23:38,043 --> 00:23:40,879
(ominous music playing)
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00:24:06,237 --> 00:24:09,491
(tense music playing)
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00:24:16,039 --> 00:24:18,083
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
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(bell ringing)
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00:25:21,354 --> 00:25:23,606
(crowd chanting in Spanish)
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00:25:25,066 --> 00:25:28,111
(rhythmic clapping)
267
00:25:30,530 --> 00:25:33,575
(dramatic music playing)
268
00:25:36,578 --> 00:25:38,830
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
269
00:25:53,470 --> 00:25:56,014
(music softens)
270
00:26:02,896 --> 00:26:05,148
- (music fades out)
- (insects chirring)
271
00:26:09,027 --> 00:26:11,279
(speaking Spanish,
voice breaking)
272
00:26:15,408 --> 00:26:18,661
(somber music playing)
273
00:26:34,594 --> 00:26:36,846
(Rosa speaking English)
274
00:26:56,199 --> 00:26:57,533
(music fades out)
275
00:26:57,534 --> 00:27:00,577
(horn honking)
276
00:27:00,578 --> 00:27:02,329
Nanfu: The Cuban
government's crackdown
277
00:27:02,330 --> 00:27:03,872
on Oswaldo's law project
278
00:27:03,873 --> 00:27:06,417
wasn't limited to him
and his family.
279
00:27:06,418 --> 00:27:07,752
(indistinct chatter)
280
00:27:08,211 --> 00:27:10,587
Seventy-five people
who worked with Oswaldo
281
00:27:10,588 --> 00:27:12,924
on the project were imprisoned.
282
00:27:13,842 --> 00:27:18,013
One of them was the father
of Rosa's friend, Saylí.
283
00:27:19,723 --> 00:27:22,267
(Saylí Navarro Alvarez
speaking Spanish)
284
00:27:46,708 --> 00:27:49,961
(acoustic guitar music
playing)
285
00:27:57,927 --> 00:27:59,888
(Nanfu speaking English)
286
00:28:00,889 --> 00:28:01,847
(Rosa speaking English)
287
00:28:01,848 --> 00:28:04,351
(passengers speaking English)
288
00:28:13,902 --> 00:28:16,321
(suspenseful music playing)
289
00:28:35,423 --> 00:28:37,467
(Rosa speaking English)
290
00:28:52,857 --> 00:28:56,111
(suspenseful music continues)
291
00:29:26,766 --> 00:29:28,309
Nanfu: Oh, my God.
292
00:29:29,269 --> 00:29:31,312
(muttering indistinctly)
293
00:29:35,358 --> 00:29:37,235
Let's see.
294
00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:40,864
Here's their...
295
00:29:43,366 --> 00:29:45,618
(friend speaking Spanish)
296
00:29:46,161 --> 00:29:49,038
I saw this one again, like,
right before we came here,
297
00:29:49,039 --> 00:29:51,124
- so tres coches.
- Nanfu: Three cars.
298
00:29:51,499 --> 00:29:53,543
(friend speaking Spanish)
299
00:29:56,338 --> 00:29:58,548
(Saylí speaking Spanish)
300
00:30:06,473 --> 00:30:09,059
(Rosa speaking English)
301
00:30:13,688 --> 00:30:15,940
(Nanfu speaking English)
302
00:30:16,441 --> 00:30:18,526
(Rosa speaking English)
303
00:30:20,362 --> 00:30:21,195
Nanfu: Mm.
304
00:30:21,196 --> 00:30:22,947
I don't--
And, that-that's--
305
00:30:27,619 --> 00:30:28,912
Yes.
306
00:30:31,456 --> 00:30:32,457
Mm-hmm.
307
00:30:34,125 --> 00:30:35,293
Mm-hmm?
308
00:30:39,631 --> 00:30:40,632
Mm.
309
00:30:41,091 --> 00:30:43,301
(Rosa speaking English)
310
00:30:49,557 --> 00:30:51,643
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
311
00:31:07,367 --> 00:31:09,411
(engine rumbling)
312
00:31:13,540 --> 00:31:15,833
(brakes squealing)
313
00:31:15,834 --> 00:31:17,793
Nanfu: Now that we knew
we were being followed,
314
00:31:17,794 --> 00:31:20,629
Rosa became much more cautious.
315
00:31:20,630 --> 00:31:23,841
She switched cabs often
to shake off any pursuers.
316
00:31:23,842 --> 00:31:25,218
(Rosa speaking English)
317
00:31:28,346 --> 00:31:29,179
Hey, hola.
318
00:31:29,180 --> 00:31:31,265
Nanfu: When meeting
other activists,
319
00:31:31,266 --> 00:31:33,392
they'd all remove
their phone batteries
320
00:31:33,393 --> 00:31:34,768
to avoid surveillance.
321
00:31:34,769 --> 00:31:36,228
(Salsa music plays on speakers)
322
00:31:36,229 --> 00:31:39,773
Even in her own home,
she would turn on loud music
323
00:31:39,774 --> 00:31:41,942
to drown out
their conversations.
324
00:31:41,943 --> 00:31:43,193
(speaking Spanish)
325
00:31:43,194 --> 00:31:44,987
Nanfu: But one of her
planned actions
326
00:31:44,988 --> 00:31:47,490
had to happen
on a crowded street.
327
00:31:48,825 --> 00:31:50,951
She went to a public
WiFi hotspot,
328
00:31:50,952 --> 00:31:53,787
which was the only way
regular Cubans
329
00:31:53,788 --> 00:31:55,581
could access the internet.
330
00:31:55,582 --> 00:31:57,499
(horns honking)
331
00:31:57,500 --> 00:32:00,377
Rosa wanted to livestream
on Facebook
332
00:32:00,378 --> 00:32:03,005
calling for the release
of her friend Danilo
333
00:32:03,006 --> 00:32:05,007
and other political prisoners.
334
00:32:05,008 --> 00:32:07,010
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
335
00:32:08,303 --> 00:32:09,511
Nanfu:
I was surprised to learn
336
00:32:09,512 --> 00:32:13,182
that unlike in China,
Cuba allowed access
337
00:32:13,183 --> 00:32:15,768
to many foreign websites,
like Facebook.
338
00:32:15,769 --> 00:32:17,186
(speaking Spanish)
339
00:32:17,187 --> 00:32:18,854
Nanfu: But that depended
on getting
340
00:32:18,855 --> 00:32:20,981
an internet connection
in the first place.
341
00:32:20,982 --> 00:32:23,276
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
342
00:32:28,656 --> 00:32:31,575
Nanfu: With limited access
to the internet,
343
00:32:31,576 --> 00:32:35,413
most Cubans still relied
on state media for information.
344
00:32:36,331 --> 00:32:38,667
(radio DJ speaking Spanish)
345
00:33:10,699 --> 00:33:12,283
(car engine rumbling)
346
00:33:15,161 --> 00:33:17,706
(Rosa's friend speaking Spanish)
347
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,292
(speaking Spanish)
348
00:33:31,928 --> 00:33:34,139
(speaking Spanish)
349
00:33:35,932 --> 00:33:38,143
(speaking Spanish)
350
00:33:39,227 --> 00:33:41,479
(Saylí speaking Spanish)
351
00:33:50,113 --> 00:33:52,072
Nanfu: It may have been
a coincidence,
352
00:33:52,073 --> 00:33:54,700
but later that evening,
her friend Danilo
353
00:33:54,701 --> 00:33:56,243
was released from prison.
354
00:33:56,244 --> 00:33:58,787
- (door closing)
- (horn honking)
355
00:33:58,788 --> 00:34:01,124
(dog barking in distance)
356
00:34:02,542 --> 00:34:04,586
(engine rumbling)
357
00:34:08,465 --> 00:34:10,717
(greeting each other,
speaking indistinctly)
358
00:34:11,968 --> 00:34:14,179
(speaking Spanish)
359
00:34:24,689 --> 00:34:26,648
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
360
00:34:26,649 --> 00:34:28,777
(speaking Spanish)
361
00:34:43,333 --> 00:34:45,543
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
362
00:35:12,612 --> 00:35:15,030
(insects chirring)
363
00:35:15,031 --> 00:35:17,325
(thunder rumbling)
364
00:35:19,619 --> 00:35:22,872
- (waves crashing)
- (sea birds calling)
365
00:35:26,918 --> 00:35:28,252
(speaking Spanish)
366
00:35:28,253 --> 00:35:31,046
Nanfu: One afternoon,
while I was filming Rosa
367
00:35:31,047 --> 00:35:32,757
and her friends on the beach...
368
00:35:33,842 --> 00:35:35,551
I noticed that there was a man
369
00:35:35,552 --> 00:35:38,138
pointing his camera phone
at me.
370
00:35:39,723 --> 00:35:41,766
(ominous music playing)
371
00:35:44,769 --> 00:35:48,564
When I turned around to get
a different angle behind him,
372
00:35:48,565 --> 00:35:52,067
he turned his camera around
to film me too.
373
00:35:52,068 --> 00:35:54,738
(ominous music continues)
374
00:35:59,242 --> 00:36:01,703
- (boat motor rumbling)
- (waves crashing)
375
00:36:03,163 --> 00:36:05,290
(horns honking)
376
00:36:06,416 --> 00:36:08,626
(horns continue honking)
377
00:36:09,544 --> 00:36:11,837
I found myself
looking over my shoulder
378
00:36:11,838 --> 00:36:13,465
everywhere we went.
379
00:36:14,716 --> 00:36:17,801
I didn't know whether or when
the security agents
380
00:36:17,802 --> 00:36:20,305
would directly confront us.
381
00:36:24,309 --> 00:36:26,477
It felt just like filming
in China.
382
00:36:26,478 --> 00:36:29,021
The surveillance
and the intimidation
383
00:36:29,022 --> 00:36:31,231
made it hard to do
basic things,
384
00:36:31,232 --> 00:36:34,485
like having a meeting
or accessing the internet,
385
00:36:34,486 --> 00:36:36,362
let alone carrying out
campaigns
386
00:36:36,363 --> 00:36:38,573
to challenge the authorities.
387
00:36:40,241 --> 00:36:43,786
It was clear that Rosa's plan
to coordinate protest actions
388
00:36:43,787 --> 00:36:47,248
was impossible
under these circumstances.
389
00:36:48,416 --> 00:36:50,376
So, for the moment,
she decided
390
00:36:50,377 --> 00:36:52,420
to return to the U.S.
391
00:36:53,713 --> 00:36:56,674
(soft music playing)
392
00:36:56,675 --> 00:36:58,802
(birds chirping)
393
00:37:00,845 --> 00:37:02,889
(motorcycle zooming)
394
00:37:04,432 --> 00:37:06,685
(spoon clinking, stirring)
395
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,813
(Ofelia speaking Spanish)
396
00:37:21,032 --> 00:37:23,243
(soft trumpet music playing)
397
00:37:25,995 --> 00:37:29,457
Rosa:
It was June 6, 2013.
398
00:37:30,750 --> 00:37:35,714
It was hard to arrive in
an entirely new country.
399
00:37:36,923 --> 00:37:40,343
I convinced myself
that I was just visiting.
400
00:37:42,470 --> 00:37:45,139
So, I was not a typical
immigrant.
401
00:37:45,140 --> 00:37:48,017
I didn't want it, to be here.
402
00:37:48,018 --> 00:37:50,061
I was not trying to adapt.
403
00:37:53,732 --> 00:37:55,691
Nanfu: It was easy for me
to imagine
404
00:37:55,692 --> 00:37:59,111
what those first few years
of separation from her home
405
00:37:59,112 --> 00:38:01,030
must have felt like for Rosa.
406
00:38:01,031 --> 00:38:03,366
(traffic rushing)
407
00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:06,744
I left China in 2011,
408
00:38:06,745 --> 00:38:10,330
not out of fear for my safety
like Rosa and her family,
409
00:38:10,331 --> 00:38:12,708
but I did share their view
of the U.S.
410
00:38:12,709 --> 00:38:15,628
as a place
where people live freely.
411
00:38:17,672 --> 00:38:20,132
Even though I left China
by choice,
412
00:38:20,133 --> 00:38:21,967
it will always be my home,
413
00:38:21,968 --> 00:38:25,722
a part of my identity
I would never want to change.
414
00:38:26,723 --> 00:38:29,016
My films have been banned
in China.
415
00:38:29,017 --> 00:38:32,353
The possibility that one day
I could be cut off
416
00:38:32,354 --> 00:38:35,022
from everything
that made me who I am
417
00:38:35,023 --> 00:38:36,816
is painful to think about.
418
00:38:37,942 --> 00:38:41,321
(siren wailing)
419
00:38:45,033 --> 00:38:46,658
Walking through Little Havana,
420
00:38:46,659 --> 00:38:49,453
I could feel a sense
of homesickness
421
00:38:49,454 --> 00:38:51,581
emanating from the place.
422
00:38:52,290 --> 00:38:54,667
It gave me a painful feeling
of recognition,
423
00:38:54,668 --> 00:38:58,420
a dream of home
that won't stop recurring,
424
00:38:58,421 --> 00:39:00,632
but never comes true.
425
00:39:01,925 --> 00:39:04,636
(soft music playing)
426
00:39:11,518 --> 00:39:13,770
(waves lightly crashing)
427
00:39:16,940 --> 00:39:18,983
(Rosa speaking English)
428
00:39:55,895 --> 00:39:58,148
- (phones ringing)
- (people chattering)
429
00:40:00,984 --> 00:40:03,403
(chattering continues)
430
00:40:07,907 --> 00:40:09,951
(Rosa speaking English)
431
00:40:46,613 --> 00:40:48,364
That yes-or-no question.
432
00:40:48,365 --> 00:40:50,324
(speaking Spanish)
433
00:40:50,325 --> 00:40:51,910
Oh, perfect.
434
00:40:53,244 --> 00:40:55,037
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
435
00:40:55,038 --> 00:40:56,914
(colleague speaking Spanish)
436
00:40:56,915 --> 00:40:58,750
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
437
00:41:00,919 --> 00:41:02,212
- Uh-huh.
- Si.
438
00:41:03,630 --> 00:41:05,422
Nanfu: I had seen
how challenging it was
439
00:41:05,423 --> 00:41:08,593
for Rosa to operate
inside of Cuba.
440
00:41:09,386 --> 00:41:11,136
Now that I was observing
her work
441
00:41:11,137 --> 00:41:12,638
from outside the country,
442
00:41:12,639 --> 00:41:15,974
I wondered how she could
have an impact on Cuba
443
00:41:15,975 --> 00:41:17,810
from a distance.
444
00:41:17,811 --> 00:41:19,937
It was a question
I had been asking
445
00:41:19,938 --> 00:41:22,899
about my own work
since leaving China.
446
00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:24,608
(plane engines whirring)
447
00:41:24,609 --> 00:41:25,859
flight attendant:
Ladies and gentlemen,
448
00:41:25,860 --> 00:41:27,277
we have been cleared
for landing
449
00:41:27,278 --> 00:41:28,779
into the San Juan airport.
450
00:41:28,780 --> 00:41:31,949
In preparation for landing,
please bring your seat backs
451
00:41:31,950 --> 00:41:33,409
and tray tables...
452
00:41:33,410 --> 00:41:35,452
(people chattering)
453
00:41:35,453 --> 00:41:38,081
(curious music playing)
454
00:41:39,457 --> 00:41:41,959
Nanfu: I followed Rosa
to Puerto Rico,
455
00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:45,713
where Cuban democracy activists
were holding a convention.
456
00:41:45,714 --> 00:41:48,008
(conversing in Spanish)
457
00:41:49,134 --> 00:41:53,137
Nanfu: Sixty-five different
organizations were represented.
458
00:41:53,138 --> 00:41:56,932
Some of the activists
came from inside Cuba,
459
00:41:56,933 --> 00:41:59,811
but the majority
were living in exile.
460
00:42:00,645 --> 00:42:02,897
(activist speaking in Spanish)
461
00:42:13,950 --> 00:42:18,788
(Cuban National Anthem
"La Bayamesa" playing)
462
00:42:22,208 --> 00:42:23,834
(all singing "La Bayamesa")
463
00:42:23,835 --> 00:42:27,129
Nanfu: I had never seen
this level of organization
464
00:42:27,130 --> 00:42:28,756
among Chinese dissidents.
465
00:42:28,757 --> 00:42:31,091
There is so much infighting
and division
466
00:42:31,092 --> 00:42:33,969
among Chinese activists,
that I couldn't imagine them
467
00:42:33,970 --> 00:42:38,140
all gathering in one room
adopting shared principles.
468
00:42:38,141 --> 00:42:41,060
So, I was curious to see
what this conference
469
00:42:41,061 --> 00:42:42,937
could accomplish.
470
00:42:43,897 --> 00:42:46,524
- speaker: Viva Cuba Libre!
- crowd: Viva!
471
00:42:46,858 --> 00:42:49,611
(activist speaking Spanish)
472
00:43:02,248 --> 00:43:04,292
(speaking Spanish)
473
00:43:31,820 --> 00:43:34,072
(speaking Spanish)
474
00:43:48,962 --> 00:43:50,754
Nanfu: It wasn't long
before the meeting
475
00:43:50,755 --> 00:43:52,214
devolved into chaos.
476
00:43:52,215 --> 00:43:54,259
(speaking Spanish)
477
00:44:12,610 --> 00:44:14,863
(speaking Spanish)
478
00:44:21,619 --> 00:44:23,872
(speaking Spanish)
479
00:44:31,504 --> 00:44:35,425
(speaking Spanish)
480
00:44:39,346 --> 00:44:41,389
(speaking Spanish)
481
00:44:42,474 --> 00:44:45,810
(speaking Spanish)
482
00:44:46,436 --> 00:44:48,480
(speaking Spanish)
483
00:44:49,272 --> 00:44:52,776
(speaking Spanish)
484
00:44:58,281 --> 00:45:01,617
Nanfu: After observing
three days of the conference,
485
00:45:01,618 --> 00:45:03,911
I was surprised by how little
I learned
486
00:45:03,912 --> 00:45:08,249
about this group's plan
to achieve its goals for Cuba.
487
00:45:10,585 --> 00:45:12,127
Looking around the room,
488
00:45:12,128 --> 00:45:14,838
I noticed that there was
very little representation
489
00:45:14,839 --> 00:45:17,633
from the younger generation
of Cuban activists.
490
00:45:17,634 --> 00:45:18,884
(speaking Spanish)
491
00:45:18,885 --> 00:45:20,636
Nanfu: Rosa was one
of the youngest people
492
00:45:20,637 --> 00:45:23,347
in the room,
yet many of the people here
493
00:45:23,348 --> 00:45:25,307
clearly respected her.
494
00:45:25,308 --> 00:45:26,809
(speaking Spanish)
495
00:45:26,810 --> 00:45:29,228
I kept an eye on her
as the arguments
496
00:45:29,229 --> 00:45:30,813
grew more intense.
497
00:45:30,814 --> 00:45:32,815
If she was feeling
any frustration
498
00:45:32,816 --> 00:45:35,526
at how the conference
was playing out,
499
00:45:35,527 --> 00:45:37,195
she wasn't showing it.
500
00:45:37,487 --> 00:45:40,198
(attendee speaking Spanish)
501
00:45:55,755 --> 00:45:58,008
(Rosa whispering in Spanish)
502
00:46:01,845 --> 00:46:04,055
(speaking Spanish)
503
00:46:04,222 --> 00:46:06,266
(speaking Spanish)
504
00:46:29,289 --> 00:46:30,706
(people chattering)
505
00:46:30,707 --> 00:46:33,001
(Rosa speaking English)
506
00:46:52,937 --> 00:46:55,190
(insects chirring)
507
00:46:55,607 --> 00:46:59,819
(loud dance music playing)
508
00:47:20,507 --> 00:47:22,550
(speaking Spanish)
509
00:47:23,051 --> 00:47:25,511
(music continues playing)
510
00:47:25,512 --> 00:47:27,931
(dance partner speaking Spanish)
511
00:47:28,807 --> 00:47:30,308
(speaking Spanish)
512
00:47:33,895 --> 00:47:36,146
Nanfu: From the moment
I first met Rosa
513
00:47:36,147 --> 00:47:39,942
to this moment in the bar,
I had never seen Rosa
514
00:47:39,943 --> 00:47:43,487
do anything unrelated
to her activism.
515
00:47:43,488 --> 00:47:45,615
(voices echoing)
516
00:47:50,787 --> 00:47:53,998
(calm music playing)
517
00:48:16,229 --> 00:48:20,567
I was unprepared to see Rosa
in such an unguarded moment.
518
00:48:23,445 --> 00:48:25,738
I found myself
wondering what life
519
00:48:25,739 --> 00:48:29,576
might have been like for her
had she not lost her father.
520
00:48:35,165 --> 00:48:39,084
In this moment,
something became clear to me.
521
00:48:39,085 --> 00:48:42,838
Rosa was a young woman
who had given up a normal life
522
00:48:42,839 --> 00:48:45,007
filled with moments
like this one
523
00:48:45,008 --> 00:48:47,385
to follow her dream for Cuba.
524
00:48:49,763 --> 00:48:53,016
(calm music continues)
525
00:48:58,521 --> 00:49:01,566
(waves crashing)
526
00:49:05,612 --> 00:49:07,655
(sea birds calling)
527
00:49:11,743 --> 00:49:13,953
(bell tolling in distance)
528
00:49:17,624 --> 00:49:20,417
The next morning,
Rosa said something
529
00:49:20,418 --> 00:49:22,294
that surprised me.
530
00:49:22,295 --> 00:49:23,504
(elevator dings)
531
00:49:23,505 --> 00:49:25,756
She asked me
not to use the footage
532
00:49:25,757 --> 00:49:27,675
of her dancing in the film.
533
00:49:27,676 --> 00:49:30,761
She explained that it wasn't
the version of herself
534
00:49:30,762 --> 00:49:33,472
that she wanted
the world to see.
535
00:49:33,473 --> 00:49:35,392
(elevator doors open)
536
00:49:40,563 --> 00:49:43,107
We talked about it
for a long time.
537
00:49:43,108 --> 00:49:45,567
I explained that I thought
it would be meaningful
538
00:49:45,568 --> 00:49:48,737
for people to see her
in that moment.
539
00:49:48,738 --> 00:49:51,448
She didn't seem
totally convinced,
540
00:49:51,449 --> 00:49:54,910
but eventually,
she dropped her objection.
541
00:49:54,911 --> 00:49:56,286
(ambient street noise,
cars honking)
542
00:49:56,287 --> 00:49:59,623
Rosa: If the Cuban regime
wouldn't exist,
543
00:49:59,624 --> 00:50:03,377
I would be taking care
of other issues in my life.
544
00:50:03,378 --> 00:50:05,170
But I'm taking care
of that issue,
545
00:50:05,171 --> 00:50:09,300
not because they decided,
but because I decided.
546
00:50:10,301 --> 00:50:12,803
I understand, too,
that I'm missing
547
00:50:12,804 --> 00:50:14,388
other parts of life.
548
00:50:14,389 --> 00:50:18,809
But I... I came
to terms with that.
549
00:50:18,810 --> 00:50:22,938
(dramatic music playing)
550
00:50:22,939 --> 00:50:25,233
(ambient airport noise,
people chattering)
551
00:50:30,321 --> 00:50:35,117
(applause)
552
00:50:35,118 --> 00:50:37,953
speaker: Rosa María Payá
is the daughter
553
00:50:37,954 --> 00:50:40,039
of Oswaldo Payá,
554
00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:42,207
the most accomplished
democracy advocate
555
00:50:42,208 --> 00:50:44,043
in Cuban history.
556
00:50:44,044 --> 00:50:45,127
(applause)
557
00:50:45,128 --> 00:50:47,796
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
558
00:50:47,797 --> 00:50:50,507
Nanfu: As I continued
following Rosa,
559
00:50:50,508 --> 00:50:53,219
it felt like I was witnessing
a transformation.
560
00:50:54,471 --> 00:50:57,181
When I first met her,
she seemed to be known
561
00:50:57,182 --> 00:50:59,726
primarily as Oswaldo Payá's
daughter.
562
00:51:00,977 --> 00:51:03,229
(speaking Spanish)
563
00:51:04,356 --> 00:51:06,815
Nanfu: Now, she was being
stopped on the street.
564
00:51:06,816 --> 00:51:09,110
(speaking Spanish)
565
00:51:11,905 --> 00:51:13,238
(camera clicking)
566
00:51:13,239 --> 00:51:15,324
Nanfu: People I spoke with
who knew Rosa
567
00:51:15,325 --> 00:51:17,869
had similar observations.
568
00:51:19,079 --> 00:51:21,539
(speaker 1 speaking Spanish)
569
00:51:26,086 --> 00:51:27,670
(speaking Spanish)
570
00:51:27,671 --> 00:51:28,712
(cameras clicking)
571
00:51:28,713 --> 00:51:30,757
(speaker 2 speaking Spanish)
572
00:51:48,566 --> 00:51:50,693
- (cameras clicking)
- (reporters chattering)
573
00:51:50,694 --> 00:51:52,569
Nanfu: Rosa had gone
from filming herself
574
00:51:52,570 --> 00:51:55,239
on the streets of Havana
to being filmed
575
00:51:55,240 --> 00:51:57,908
by dozens of TV cameras.
576
00:51:57,909 --> 00:51:59,702
(inaudible)
577
00:51:59,703 --> 00:52:01,203
(cameras clicking)
578
00:52:01,204 --> 00:52:04,331
It became difficult
to keep up with Rosa
579
00:52:04,332 --> 00:52:06,876
as she jetted
from one country to another.
580
00:52:07,836 --> 00:52:09,336
And so, it was around this time
581
00:52:09,337 --> 00:52:12,298
that our paths
started to diverge.
582
00:52:15,969 --> 00:52:19,222
(ultrasound whirring)
583
00:52:22,642 --> 00:52:26,146
Just as Rosa was undergoing
this transformation...
584
00:52:27,063 --> 00:52:28,313
(machine beeping)
585
00:52:28,314 --> 00:52:31,025
...my life changed too.
586
00:52:31,026 --> 00:52:34,320
(soft music playing)
587
00:52:37,949 --> 00:52:39,742
Becoming a mother
changed the way
588
00:52:39,743 --> 00:52:42,537
I saw the country
where I was living.
589
00:52:43,246 --> 00:52:46,248
Until this moment,
I had a casual relationship
590
00:52:46,249 --> 00:52:48,000
with America.
591
00:52:48,001 --> 00:52:49,294
(subway tracks squeaking)
592
00:52:49,419 --> 00:52:52,588
But my son
was Chinese American.
593
00:52:52,589 --> 00:52:55,591
Once I had a child here,
the relationship
594
00:52:55,592 --> 00:52:58,552
became permanent
and irrevocable.
595
00:52:58,553 --> 00:53:02,431
I became involved
in this country's future.
596
00:53:02,432 --> 00:53:03,766
- (protestors shouting)
- (weapons firing)
597
00:53:03,767 --> 00:53:07,728
And as I looked around me,
that future seemed dark.
598
00:53:07,729 --> 00:53:09,646
reporter 1:
Evidence of a growing trend,
599
00:53:09,647 --> 00:53:11,106
hate crimes in the U.S.,
600
00:53:11,107 --> 00:53:13,025
the latest attack
in Portland, Oregon.
601
00:53:13,026 --> 00:53:16,403
reporter 2: Have been increasing
reports of hate crime...
602
00:53:16,404 --> 00:53:18,197
reporter 3: Those are the words
of the president.
603
00:53:18,198 --> 00:53:19,948
"Why are we having
all these people
604
00:53:19,949 --> 00:53:21,325
from shithole countries?"
605
00:53:21,326 --> 00:53:23,285
reporter 4: Basically,
democratic norms are being...
606
00:53:23,286 --> 00:53:24,787
reporter 5: The rights
of minorities,
607
00:53:24,788 --> 00:53:26,580
freedom of the press,
and of the rule of law.
608
00:53:26,581 --> 00:53:28,499
reporter 6: So, there's a lot
of people doubting the system.
609
00:53:28,500 --> 00:53:31,543
reporter 7: Further erosion of
American political institutions
610
00:53:31,544 --> 00:53:34,588
continuing a seven-year trend.
611
00:53:34,589 --> 00:53:36,590
Nanfu: I left China
and came to the U.S.
612
00:53:36,591 --> 00:53:40,636
because of this promise
of democracy and freedom.
613
00:53:40,637 --> 00:53:44,306
But what I was seeing
did not feel like a democracy
614
00:53:44,307 --> 00:53:46,141
that was functioning properly.
615
00:53:46,142 --> 00:53:52,023
crowd (chanting):
Build the wall! Build the wall!
Build the wall! Build the wall!
616
00:53:53,233 --> 00:53:55,317
(protestors shouting)
617
00:53:55,318 --> 00:53:57,069
Nanfu: I started to worry
that the country
618
00:53:57,070 --> 00:53:59,405
where I had chosen
to raise my child
619
00:53:59,406 --> 00:54:01,824
was becoming
less fair and free,
620
00:54:01,825 --> 00:54:04,993
and possibly even hostile
to people like him.
621
00:54:04,994 --> 00:54:08,331
(solemn string music playing)
622
00:54:10,959 --> 00:54:12,293
(music fades out)
623
00:54:13,545 --> 00:54:16,547
It had been a while
since I'd seen Rosa,
624
00:54:16,548 --> 00:54:19,174
when one day,
I was watching TV.
625
00:54:19,175 --> 00:54:21,844
Little Havana.
Ah.
626
00:54:21,845 --> 00:54:23,846
Havana, we love.
Do we love it?
627
00:54:23,847 --> 00:54:26,181
(crowd shouts in English)
628
00:54:26,182 --> 00:54:29,143
Now, this is an amazing
community.
629
00:54:29,144 --> 00:54:31,186
The Cuban American community.
630
00:54:31,187 --> 00:54:33,605
There's so much love,
I saw that immediately.
631
00:54:33,606 --> 00:54:35,024
(crowd member shouts in English)
632
00:54:35,025 --> 00:54:36,859
Thank you, darling.
633
00:54:36,860 --> 00:54:38,861
Oh, do I love you too.
634
00:54:38,862 --> 00:54:40,237
(laughter)
635
00:54:40,238 --> 00:54:42,865
crowd (chanting):
Trump! Trump! Trump!
636
00:54:42,866 --> 00:54:44,951
(cheering and applause)
637
00:54:46,244 --> 00:54:49,497
(suspenseful music playing)
638
00:54:56,921 --> 00:55:00,049
Nanfu: I never would have
imagined these two people
639
00:55:00,050 --> 00:55:02,093
standing on the same stage.
640
00:55:03,303 --> 00:55:06,221
Was Rosa there
to show her support?
641
00:55:06,222 --> 00:55:09,683
Or was she there
for more pragmatic reasons?
642
00:55:09,684 --> 00:55:10,809
Thank you.
643
00:55:10,810 --> 00:55:12,644
Nanfu: I listened
to the whole speech
644
00:55:12,645 --> 00:55:15,439
for clues about what led Rosa
to that stage.
645
00:55:15,440 --> 00:55:16,648
Very brave people.
646
00:55:16,649 --> 00:55:19,234
The exiles
and dissidents here today
647
00:55:19,235 --> 00:55:22,279
have witnessed communism
destroy a nation,
648
00:55:22,280 --> 00:55:26,992
just as communism has destroyed
every single nation
649
00:55:26,993 --> 00:55:29,621
where it has ever been tried.
650
00:55:30,789 --> 00:55:32,999
(applause)
651
00:55:34,542 --> 00:55:36,543
Nanfu: It was in this moment
that I began
652
00:55:36,544 --> 00:55:39,463
to sense a difference
between Rosa and me,
653
00:55:39,464 --> 00:55:41,883
despite our similar
backgrounds.
654
00:55:44,427 --> 00:55:47,639
(classical music playing)
655
00:55:51,393 --> 00:55:53,645
(people chattering)
656
00:56:03,738 --> 00:56:06,824
Not long after her appearance
at Trump's rally,
657
00:56:06,825 --> 00:56:09,868
Rosa attended an event
held by an organization
658
00:56:09,869 --> 00:56:13,665
called the Victims of Communism
Foundation.
659
00:56:14,332 --> 00:56:16,626
(announcer speaking English)
660
00:56:27,679 --> 00:56:30,932
(classical music continues)
661
00:56:31,516 --> 00:56:35,020
(speaking English)
662
00:56:45,905 --> 00:56:49,616
We are bound by
our understanding of communism.
663
00:56:49,617 --> 00:56:52,119
As what?
As a pseudo-religion
664
00:56:52,120 --> 00:56:56,832
that deserves to be buried deep
in the ash heap of history.
665
00:56:56,833 --> 00:56:58,960
(applause)
666
00:57:00,170 --> 00:57:03,839
Nanfu: Despite having been
raised in a communist society,
667
00:57:03,840 --> 00:57:07,718
I would never describe myself
as a victim of communism.
668
00:57:07,719 --> 00:57:10,846
I experienced repression
in China,
669
00:57:10,847 --> 00:57:14,308
but it felt disingenuous
to blame that repression
670
00:57:14,309 --> 00:57:16,602
on an ideology like communism.
671
00:57:16,603 --> 00:57:19,898
(soft music playing)
672
00:57:21,483 --> 00:57:24,360
I grew up reciting
the definition of communism
673
00:57:24,361 --> 00:57:26,028
in school every morning.
674
00:57:26,029 --> 00:57:28,114
(speaking Chinese)
675
00:57:37,749 --> 00:57:41,086
But as I grew up,
I looked around.
676
00:57:42,337 --> 00:57:44,546
Nothing I was taught
about communism
677
00:57:44,547 --> 00:57:48,802
or socialism was reflected
in real life in China.
678
00:57:50,345 --> 00:57:54,890
The reality I saw bore more
of a resemblance to capitalism.
679
00:57:54,891 --> 00:57:58,394
Small numbers of people
control most of the wealth.
680
00:57:58,395 --> 00:57:59,687
(sewing machines rattling)
681
00:57:59,688 --> 00:58:02,398
Workers are exploited.
682
00:58:02,399 --> 00:58:05,026
The goal
is to maximize profit.
683
00:58:06,111 --> 00:58:07,194
(applause)
684
00:58:07,195 --> 00:58:11,407
Even China's government
seems to realize this,
685
00:58:11,408 --> 00:58:14,284
and in recent years,
it has worked hard
686
00:58:14,285 --> 00:58:16,120
to remind people
that the country
687
00:58:16,121 --> 00:58:17,913
is actually socialist,
688
00:58:17,914 --> 00:58:20,457
but with
Chinese characteristics.
689
00:58:20,458 --> 00:58:22,794
(Xi Jinping speaking Chinese)
690
00:58:27,590 --> 00:58:30,593
(speaking Chinese)
691
00:58:34,556 --> 00:58:36,808
(speaking Chinese)
692
00:58:40,603 --> 00:58:42,604
Nanfu: I've come to realize
that in China,
693
00:58:42,605 --> 00:58:45,232
the words "communism"
and "socialism"
694
00:58:45,233 --> 00:58:47,568
are used as propaganda tools.
695
00:58:47,569 --> 00:58:49,611
They conjure a utopian ideal
696
00:58:49,612 --> 00:58:52,364
that justifies
the state's policies.
697
00:58:52,365 --> 00:58:55,660
(dramatic music playing)
698
00:59:05,503 --> 00:59:07,087
Since moving to the U.S.,
699
00:59:07,088 --> 00:59:10,007
I found that the words
"communism" and "socialism"
700
00:59:10,008 --> 00:59:13,345
also are exploited
by politicians here.
701
00:59:14,387 --> 00:59:16,056
(speaking English)
702
00:59:18,975 --> 00:59:20,225
(speaking English)
703
00:59:20,226 --> 00:59:22,394
reporter: New evidence
of communist activities
704
00:59:22,395 --> 00:59:23,896
in government circles
is promised
705
00:59:23,897 --> 00:59:26,608
by the House Committee
on Un-American Activities.
706
00:59:28,860 --> 00:59:30,986
Nanfu: I had thought that
Americans learned
707
00:59:30,987 --> 00:59:33,405
from the Red Scare
that politicians
708
00:59:33,406 --> 00:59:35,532
were spreading
fear of communism
709
00:59:35,533 --> 00:59:37,993
so that they could
exploit that fear.
710
00:59:37,994 --> 00:59:41,413
I thought of it as a moment
in this country's history
711
00:59:41,414 --> 00:59:43,499
that had come and gone.
712
00:59:43,500 --> 00:59:46,752
But clearly,
this was not the case.
713
00:59:46,753 --> 00:59:48,671
But you know what the biggest
threat to America is?
714
00:59:48,672 --> 00:59:50,214
Not socialism in Moscow.
715
00:59:50,215 --> 00:59:53,342
- Socialism here in America.
- (cheering and applause)
716
00:59:53,343 --> 00:59:56,011
They want to take
your pickup truck.
717
00:59:56,012 --> 00:59:58,389
They wanna take away
your hamburgers.
718
00:59:58,390 --> 01:00:01,183
This is what Stalin
dreamt about.
719
01:00:01,184 --> 01:00:03,686
A vote for any Democrat in 2020
720
01:00:03,687 --> 01:00:07,481
is a vote for the rise
of radical socialism
721
01:00:07,482 --> 01:00:10,234
and the destruction
of the American Dream.
722
01:00:10,235 --> 01:00:12,194
(crowd booing)
723
01:00:12,195 --> 01:00:13,946
There are probably more Marxists
724
01:00:13,947 --> 01:00:16,365
on college faculties
in the United States
725
01:00:16,366 --> 01:00:19,493
than there are in all of
Eastern Europe combined, okay?
726
01:00:19,494 --> 01:00:22,038
(applause)
727
01:00:24,124 --> 01:00:26,000
Thank you so much, Governor,
Lieutenant Governor...
728
01:00:26,001 --> 01:00:28,085
Nanfu:
Since Rosa and I first met,
729
01:00:28,086 --> 01:00:30,879
I felt that we had
an unspoken understanding
730
01:00:30,880 --> 01:00:34,508
about each other's experiences
and perspectives.
731
01:00:34,509 --> 01:00:36,093
But now, I realized
732
01:00:36,094 --> 01:00:38,303
that I shouldn't have
made assumptions
733
01:00:38,304 --> 01:00:40,389
about what she believed.
734
01:00:40,390 --> 01:00:42,975
Would you call yourself
anti-communism?
735
01:00:42,976 --> 01:00:44,436
Totally.
736
01:00:46,146 --> 01:00:50,232
All the communist regimes that
are still in place in the world,
737
01:00:50,233 --> 01:00:53,777
but especially in Latin America,
and especially Cuba,
738
01:00:53,778 --> 01:00:57,156
they are also
criminal enterprises.
739
01:00:57,157 --> 01:01:01,076
It's-- it's a great evil
that we need to eradicate.
740
01:01:01,077 --> 01:01:03,245
Nanfu: What do you think
of capitalism?
741
01:01:03,246 --> 01:01:08,417
Capitalism is a-- it's a--
it's another economic system.
742
01:01:08,418 --> 01:01:12,588
But it's not actually
the counterpart to communism.
743
01:01:12,589 --> 01:01:15,257
The counterpart to communism
is democracy.
744
01:01:15,258 --> 01:01:18,385
And of course, capitalism
has a lot of flaws.
745
01:01:18,386 --> 01:01:21,972
Actually, all these
criminal organizations in power
746
01:01:21,973 --> 01:01:24,892
in communist regimes
are capitalists.
747
01:01:24,893 --> 01:01:26,602
The Cuban state's
a greedy apparatus.
748
01:01:26,603 --> 01:01:27,770
They are capitalists.
749
01:01:27,771 --> 01:01:29,480
Nanfu: It's interesting
to hear you say
750
01:01:29,481 --> 01:01:30,773
Cuba is capitalism.
751
01:01:30,774 --> 01:01:33,692
My father called it
"Capi-Castrismo."
752
01:01:33,693 --> 01:01:36,403
(chuckles)
"Capi-Castroism."
753
01:01:36,404 --> 01:01:38,697
Yes, they are capitalists.
754
01:01:38,698 --> 01:01:41,909
Just, you cannot be,
you as a regular citizen,
755
01:01:41,910 --> 01:01:43,702
you cannot have
private property.
756
01:01:43,703 --> 01:01:46,789
You cannot have an enterprise
with a foreigner.
757
01:01:46,790 --> 01:01:48,874
But they do it all the time.
758
01:01:48,875 --> 01:01:51,460
Nanfu: So, what is
an ideal society?
759
01:01:51,461 --> 01:01:52,961
Is there a country in the world
760
01:01:52,962 --> 01:01:55,964
that is closest
to that kind of system
761
01:01:55,965 --> 01:01:58,635
that you're envisioning
for Cuba's future?
762
01:01:59,302 --> 01:02:05,349
There is no--
an ideal system in the world.
763
01:02:05,350 --> 01:02:10,855
But democracy is definitely,
um, the less of the evils.
764
01:02:11,648 --> 01:02:14,775
So, yes,
I want a democratic Cuba.
765
01:02:14,776 --> 01:02:20,031
I want a nation in which we...
766
01:02:21,491 --> 01:02:25,911
live under our own terms,
which is our leaders.
767
01:02:25,912 --> 01:02:27,830
And we change our leaders.
768
01:02:27,831 --> 01:02:31,126
(string music playing)
769
01:02:33,211 --> 01:02:36,088
Nanfu: This freedom to choose
that Rosa talked about
770
01:02:36,089 --> 01:02:40,300
was what drew me and many
Chinese people to America.
771
01:02:40,301 --> 01:02:44,013
But what I found ironic
was how many immigrants
772
01:02:44,014 --> 01:02:48,809
from authoritarian societies
embraced American leaders
773
01:02:48,810 --> 01:02:51,020
with authoritarian tendencies.
774
01:02:51,021 --> 01:02:53,522
President Xi,
president for life.
775
01:02:53,523 --> 01:02:55,149
President for life?
That sounds good.
776
01:02:55,150 --> 01:02:56,900
Maybe we're gonna have
to try it.
777
01:02:56,901 --> 01:02:58,610
- (cheering and applause)
- Maybe we're...
778
01:02:58,611 --> 01:03:00,571
President for life.
779
01:03:00,572 --> 01:03:04,242
(speaking Chinese)
780
01:03:05,660 --> 01:03:07,871
(emotional, voice breaking)
781
01:03:12,125 --> 01:03:13,834
Nanfu: I understood
and sympathized
782
01:03:13,835 --> 01:03:15,544
with what these people
went through.
783
01:03:15,545 --> 01:03:20,090
But it felt dangerous to blame
communism for repression
784
01:03:20,091 --> 01:03:22,634
when the real threat
is authoritarianism,
785
01:03:22,635 --> 01:03:27,515
which can take root in both
communism and capitalism.
786
01:03:28,516 --> 01:03:30,226
Mr. President...
787
01:03:31,269 --> 01:03:36,065
I encourage you to indict
Raul Castro, Díaz-Canel,
788
01:03:36,066 --> 01:03:38,942
and all top officials
of the regime.
789
01:03:38,943 --> 01:03:42,237
And very importantly,
I encourage you
790
01:03:42,238 --> 01:03:47,493
to designate the Cuban military,
its intelligent services,
791
01:03:47,494 --> 01:03:49,036
and the Cuban Communist Party
792
01:03:49,037 --> 01:03:50,954
as foreign terrorist
organizations,
793
01:03:50,955 --> 01:03:53,290
because their relation
with the crime
794
01:03:53,291 --> 01:03:56,628
and the narco-terrorism
threatening the region.
795
01:03:59,047 --> 01:04:01,924
Our movement, Cuba Decides,
796
01:04:01,925 --> 01:04:04,718
is a national
and global initiative
797
01:04:04,719 --> 01:04:06,845
to force the Cuban regime
to submit
798
01:04:06,846 --> 01:04:09,973
to the will
of the people, and leave.
799
01:04:09,974 --> 01:04:14,269
It is imperative that all
the nations in the free world
800
01:04:14,270 --> 01:04:18,023
support the Cuban people's fight
for change,
801
01:04:18,024 --> 01:04:20,943
because the victory
of democracy in Cuba
802
01:04:20,944 --> 01:04:24,822
is essential to open the path
to peace, prosperity,
803
01:04:24,823 --> 01:04:28,117
and stability
in the whole hemisphere.
804
01:04:28,118 --> 01:04:32,664
Please accept these cufflinks...
805
01:04:34,165 --> 01:04:38,627
with the coat of arms
of the Republic of Cuba
806
01:04:38,628 --> 01:04:44,258
as a symbol of the friendship
between our two people,
807
01:04:44,259 --> 01:04:47,011
and also as a symbol
of our appreciation
808
01:04:47,012 --> 01:04:50,139
for your actions
and your solidarity.
809
01:04:50,140 --> 01:04:51,849
Thank you so much,
Mr. President.
810
01:04:51,850 --> 01:04:53,684
- Thank you very much.
- I'm looking forward
811
01:04:53,685 --> 01:04:56,020
to working together with you
very soon
812
01:04:56,021 --> 01:04:57,938
for the streets of a free Cuba.
813
01:04:57,939 --> 01:04:59,314
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you very much.
814
01:04:59,315 --> 01:05:01,442
Thank you very much.
Well, I want to thank everybody.
815
01:05:01,443 --> 01:05:04,403
I will not forget
what I heard today,
816
01:05:04,404 --> 01:05:06,989
it, uh, it's very moving.
817
01:05:06,990 --> 01:05:09,324
It's a very tough situation,
and, uh,
818
01:05:09,325 --> 01:05:11,660
we've made a lot of progress,
as you probably have seen
819
01:05:11,661 --> 01:05:12,953
and you know.
820
01:05:12,954 --> 01:05:15,540
And I have a feeling
you won't be disappointed.
821
01:05:16,458 --> 01:05:19,293
And by the way,
2020 is very important.
822
01:05:19,294 --> 01:05:22,379
Very important.
So, but this election coming up
823
01:05:22,380 --> 01:05:24,798
is a very important one.
824
01:05:24,799 --> 01:05:27,843
(protestors shouting)
825
01:05:27,844 --> 01:05:31,181
(dramatic music playing)
826
01:05:37,354 --> 01:05:39,104
Nanfu: As shocking
as the aftermath
827
01:05:39,105 --> 01:05:41,982
of the 2020 election
felt in the moment,
828
01:05:41,983 --> 01:05:44,444
it wasn't totally surprising.
829
01:05:46,071 --> 01:05:48,572
My fear as I watched
was that this
830
01:05:48,573 --> 01:05:51,658
would just be the first
of many similar moments
831
01:05:51,659 --> 01:05:54,120
for American democracy.
832
01:05:54,829 --> 01:05:57,247
I thought of Rosa,
whose central goal
833
01:05:57,248 --> 01:05:59,541
was voting rights
for Cubans.
834
01:05:59,542 --> 01:06:03,379
I had to know whether
she still supported the person
835
01:06:03,380 --> 01:06:07,550
who had done so much to
undermine democracy in the U.S.
836
01:06:09,552 --> 01:06:10,594
(clicks recorder)
837
01:06:10,595 --> 01:06:13,389
Can you say something,
and I check the audio?
838
01:06:13,390 --> 01:06:16,350
Hello, Nanfu.
How are you today?
839
01:06:16,351 --> 01:06:17,519
Nanfu: Great.
840
01:06:18,645 --> 01:06:20,020
So, we can-- we can start.
841
01:06:20,021 --> 01:06:21,564
Rosa: Okay.
842
01:06:23,191 --> 01:06:25,610
Nanfu:
Can you tell us about
what this moment is?
843
01:06:26,319 --> 01:06:27,945
- First what the--
- Could you run it?
844
01:06:27,946 --> 01:06:29,738
Because I don't remember
what he said.
845
01:06:29,739 --> 01:06:31,907
- Okay.
- (Rosa chuckles)
846
01:06:31,908 --> 01:06:33,242
Let me see.
847
01:06:33,243 --> 01:06:36,912
crowd (chanting):
Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump!
848
01:06:36,913 --> 01:06:38,831
Little Havana.
849
01:06:38,832 --> 01:06:41,126
(Rosa laughing)
850
01:06:43,461 --> 01:06:45,421
I love it.
851
01:06:45,422 --> 01:06:49,591
I was in more than one
of his activities.
852
01:06:49,592 --> 01:06:52,136
And I think that this one
was the first one.
853
01:06:52,137 --> 01:06:54,763
Actually, I didn't know that
I was going to be right there.
854
01:06:54,764 --> 01:06:59,435
Uh, but they invited me,
and I-- and I of course went.
855
01:06:59,436 --> 01:07:01,312
Um...
856
01:07:02,147 --> 01:07:04,398
I believe that this one
was the speech
857
01:07:04,399 --> 01:07:10,654
in which he, um,
announce that, uh...
858
01:07:10,655 --> 01:07:14,116
many of the concessions
that the Cuban regime had
859
01:07:14,117 --> 01:07:17,202
from the previous administration
were going to be removed.
860
01:07:17,203 --> 01:07:20,289
So, that was probably
why I was there.
861
01:07:20,290 --> 01:07:23,250
Nanfu: What do you think
of his politics?
862
01:07:23,251 --> 01:07:29,590
Regarding Cuba, uh,
I believe that he could go
863
01:07:29,591 --> 01:07:33,218
farther and more strategic
than he went.
864
01:07:33,219 --> 01:07:36,805
I do appreciate, uh,
several actions that he do,
865
01:07:36,806 --> 01:07:38,640
as the one that I mentioned.
866
01:07:38,641 --> 01:07:41,643
Nanfu: Do you support
his politics outside of Cuba?
867
01:07:41,644 --> 01:07:47,358
I do not follow, to be honest,
all-all-- all his politics.
868
01:07:47,359 --> 01:07:53,948
And we, uh, as protocol,
we try to remain, um...
869
01:07:54,783 --> 01:08:01,330
to remain nonpartisan,
non-political in that way.
870
01:08:01,331 --> 01:08:03,666
Nanfu: In America,
many saw Trump
871
01:08:03,667 --> 01:08:07,419
as an authoritarian figure
and attacked democracy.
872
01:08:07,420 --> 01:08:09,380
- Mm-hmm.
- Could you expect somebody
873
01:08:09,381 --> 01:08:11,298
attacking democracy
in his own country
874
01:08:11,299 --> 01:08:13,550
to support demo--
democratic changes
875
01:08:13,551 --> 01:08:15,260
in Cuba, actually?
876
01:08:15,261 --> 01:08:17,680
Does he-- like, does somebody
like Trump
877
01:08:17,681 --> 01:08:20,224
really care
about Cubans' democracy if...?
878
01:08:20,225 --> 01:08:27,440
I don't know what one person
has in his or her heart.
879
01:08:28,274 --> 01:08:34,196
Uh, I would love to see,
and to be sure
880
01:08:34,197 --> 01:08:40,828
that everybody has the most
clean expectations,
881
01:08:40,829 --> 01:08:44,249
feelings, and motivations.
882
01:08:46,292 --> 01:08:49,587
I also care about the actions.
883
01:08:50,463 --> 01:08:54,341
I also care about the
consequences of those actions.
884
01:08:54,342 --> 01:08:57,511
And that's what I ask for
885
01:08:57,512 --> 01:08:59,638
when I have a meeting
with a president,
886
01:08:59,639 --> 01:09:03,350
that president being Trump,
or being Biden.
887
01:09:03,351 --> 01:09:09,648
In order to be free,
we need all the support
888
01:09:09,649 --> 01:09:12,401
that the international community
can give us.
889
01:09:12,402 --> 01:09:18,115
So, it means that
I'm going to meet,
890
01:09:18,116 --> 01:09:20,200
and I'm going to ask for support
891
01:09:20,201 --> 01:09:23,245
to each person
that can give it to us,
892
01:09:23,246 --> 01:09:26,874
of course, as-- as long
as we are not talking
893
01:09:26,875 --> 01:09:28,250
about a totalitarian regime,
894
01:09:28,251 --> 01:09:31,045
we are not talking
about a murderous regime.
895
01:09:31,046 --> 01:09:34,924
But any democratic government
in this world...
896
01:09:35,842 --> 01:09:39,471
well, I'm going to knock
each of those doors.
897
01:09:41,139 --> 01:09:44,350
(conversing in Spanish)
898
01:09:44,351 --> 01:09:47,644
Nanfu: Off-camera,
Rosa told me about her fears.
899
01:09:47,645 --> 01:09:50,981
She worried that she would
alienate her supporters
900
01:09:50,982 --> 01:09:53,150
on both sides.
901
01:09:53,151 --> 01:09:55,944
Liberals might be disappointed
902
01:09:55,945 --> 01:09:58,364
that she didn't
criticize Trump,
903
01:09:58,365 --> 01:10:01,158
while conservatives
might fault her
904
01:10:01,159 --> 01:10:02,994
for not endorsing him.
905
01:10:04,162 --> 01:10:06,497
I understood Rosa's situation.
906
01:10:06,498 --> 01:10:10,125
She was trying to navigate
a polarized society
907
01:10:10,126 --> 01:10:12,628
that demanded
people take clear sides.
908
01:10:12,629 --> 01:10:16,298
(people chanting)
USA! USA! USA!
909
01:10:16,299 --> 01:10:18,676
I was born here!
You can't tell me to leave!
910
01:10:18,677 --> 01:10:21,804
You're not looking at facts.
Look for facts!
911
01:10:21,805 --> 01:10:24,307
- You're a fascist!
- I'm a fuckin' fascist!
912
01:10:25,141 --> 01:10:28,018
Nanfu: The pandemic had left
the country even more divided.
913
01:10:28,019 --> 01:10:30,355
(car horns honking)
914
01:10:32,732 --> 01:10:35,818
In this moment,
Rosa and I both tried
915
01:10:35,819 --> 01:10:39,698
in our own ways to do something
for our home countries.
916
01:10:40,990 --> 01:10:44,076
I made a film about how the
U.S. and Chinese governments
917
01:10:44,077 --> 01:10:48,288
have mishandled the outbreak,
showing that those in power
918
01:10:48,289 --> 01:10:51,542
prioritize political interests
over public health,
919
01:10:51,543 --> 01:10:54,253
regardless of whether
they are in a communist
920
01:10:54,254 --> 01:10:57,047
or capitalist country.
921
01:10:57,048 --> 01:11:00,385
(somber music playing)
922
01:11:04,431 --> 01:11:06,473
Rosa had collected food
and medicine
923
01:11:06,474 --> 01:11:09,810
for people in Cuba,
but the Cuban government
924
01:11:09,811 --> 01:11:11,688
confiscated the shipments.
925
01:11:16,901 --> 01:11:20,154
Images sent to me from Cuba
by a camera person
926
01:11:20,155 --> 01:11:21,780
showed a desperate situation.
927
01:11:21,781 --> 01:11:24,199
reporter 1: Inflation,
food and medical shortages,
928
01:11:24,200 --> 01:11:25,743
and COVID running rampant...
929
01:11:25,744 --> 01:11:28,245
reporter 2: An economic crisis
exacerbated by the pandemic,
930
01:11:28,246 --> 01:11:29,705
and no access to...
931
01:11:29,706 --> 01:11:32,541
reporter 3: Angry over shortages
of food and medicine,
932
01:11:32,542 --> 01:11:35,754
and repeated
electricity outages.
933
01:11:36,880 --> 01:11:39,465
Nanfu: The prospects for change
seemed as bleak
934
01:11:39,466 --> 01:11:41,384
as they had ever been.
935
01:11:42,969 --> 01:11:47,807
But then, in July 2021,
something changed.
936
01:11:49,267 --> 01:11:52,479
(shouting in Spanish)
937
01:12:07,660 --> 01:12:10,622
- (car horns honking)
- (tires screeching)
938
01:12:16,795 --> 01:12:18,088
(loud smack)
939
01:12:19,339 --> 01:12:21,591
(onlookers shouting)
940
01:12:22,467 --> 01:12:24,719
(shouting in Spanish)
941
01:12:44,906 --> 01:12:46,950
(shouting in Spanish)
942
01:12:49,077 --> 01:12:51,121
(shouting in Spanish)
943
01:13:05,176 --> 01:13:07,429
(shouting in Spanish)
944
01:13:10,223 --> 01:13:12,475
(shouting in Spanish)
945
01:13:15,145 --> 01:13:17,188
(shouting in Spanish)
946
01:13:30,660 --> 01:13:32,871
(interviewer speaking Spanish
over phone)
947
01:13:44,299 --> 01:13:46,551
(speaking Spanish)
948
01:14:14,954 --> 01:14:17,414
(soft music playing)
949
01:14:17,415 --> 01:14:20,584
Nanfu:
The scale and suddenness
of the protests
950
01:14:20,585 --> 01:14:24,296
surprised everyone,
including Rosa.
951
01:14:24,297 --> 01:14:28,050
There was no single event
or person who sparked them.
952
01:14:28,051 --> 01:14:30,678
They seemed to just happen.
953
01:14:30,679 --> 01:14:32,930
I could sense Rosa's
excitement.
954
01:14:32,931 --> 01:14:35,100
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
955
01:14:43,566 --> 01:14:45,777
(interviewer speaking Spanish)
956
01:14:49,114 --> 01:14:51,157
(speaking Spanish)
957
01:14:58,832 --> 01:15:01,542
(uplifting music playing)
958
01:15:01,543 --> 01:15:04,838
(protestors shouting)
959
01:15:06,589 --> 01:15:08,465
Nanfu: All over
southern Florida,
960
01:15:08,466 --> 01:15:11,010
Cuban exiles
seemed to be full of hope
961
01:15:11,011 --> 01:15:12,761
that this could be
the beginning
962
01:15:12,762 --> 01:15:15,222
of democratic change in Cuba.
963
01:15:15,223 --> 01:15:17,600
(shouting in Spanish)
964
01:15:22,105 --> 01:15:24,649
(speaking Spanish)
965
01:15:33,825 --> 01:15:37,746
(shouting)
Viva Cuba Libre!
Viva Cuba Libre!
966
01:15:41,249 --> 01:15:43,293
(air brakes hissing)
967
01:15:44,794 --> 01:15:47,005
(tense music playing)
968
01:15:48,631 --> 01:15:50,884
(Cuban citizen speaking Spanish)
969
01:15:58,391 --> 01:16:01,644
(protestors shouting)
970
01:16:08,526 --> 01:16:10,779
(shouting continues)
971
01:16:12,947 --> 01:16:14,991
(dog barking)
972
01:16:18,370 --> 01:16:20,622
- (protestors shouting)
- (baby crying)
973
01:16:22,707 --> 01:16:24,918
(shouting in Spanish)
974
01:16:25,627 --> 01:16:27,671
(shouting continues)
975
01:16:28,338 --> 01:16:30,757
(distraught Cuban citizen 1
speaking Spanish)
976
01:16:35,261 --> 01:16:37,764
(distraught Cuban citizen 2
speaking Spanish)
977
01:16:39,599 --> 01:16:41,851
(crowd shouting)
978
01:16:43,311 --> 01:16:45,730
(distraught Cuban citizen 3
speaking Spanish)
979
01:17:00,870 --> 01:17:03,081
- (shouting continues)
- (tense music continues)
980
01:17:03,957 --> 01:17:06,209
(shouting continues on phone)
981
01:17:07,585 --> 01:17:08,752
(music fades out)
982
01:17:08,753 --> 01:17:11,131
(Rosa speaking English)
983
01:17:19,639 --> 01:17:22,892
(calm music playing)
984
01:17:44,789 --> 01:17:47,042
(protestors speaking Chinese)
985
01:17:56,301 --> 01:17:58,345
(protestors chanting)
986
01:17:59,804 --> 01:18:01,638
Nanfu: When the
Tiananmen Square protests
987
01:18:01,639 --> 01:18:05,101
happened in 1989,
I was three years old.
988
01:18:06,269 --> 01:18:09,314
(singing in Chinese)
989
01:18:15,445 --> 01:18:18,322
(music and singing continues)
990
01:18:18,323 --> 01:18:20,783
Nanfu: I wouldn't hear about it
until I moved
991
01:18:20,784 --> 01:18:23,161
to the United States
as an adult.
992
01:18:24,162 --> 01:18:27,748
China went to extreme lengths
to erase the protests
993
01:18:27,749 --> 01:18:30,542
from its history.
994
01:18:30,543 --> 01:18:33,338
And it continues
this effort today.
995
01:18:34,506 --> 01:18:37,675
When I did finally learn
about the demonstrations,
996
01:18:37,676 --> 01:18:41,179
I was around the same age
as the protestors.
997
01:18:42,305 --> 01:18:44,348
I saw myself in them.
998
01:18:44,349 --> 01:18:45,974
(protestors continue singing)
999
01:18:45,975 --> 01:18:49,895
There was so much hope,
so much idealism.
1000
01:18:49,896 --> 01:18:51,814
It was a moment
when the possibility
1001
01:18:51,815 --> 01:18:55,318
of democracy in China
felt most palpable.
1002
01:18:56,486 --> 01:18:59,072
(gunfire and explosions)
1003
01:19:06,621 --> 01:19:10,165
I've wondered often about
what China would be like today
1004
01:19:10,166 --> 01:19:14,169
if the protests had succeeded
in reforming the country.
1005
01:19:14,170 --> 01:19:17,297
(people chattering)
1006
01:19:17,298 --> 01:19:18,841
(people shouting)
1007
01:19:18,842 --> 01:19:23,178
Now, watching something similar
happening in Cuba,
1008
01:19:23,179 --> 01:19:26,807
I find myself asking
how a movement for change
1009
01:19:26,808 --> 01:19:29,935
can succeed against
such a powerful adversary.
1010
01:19:29,936 --> 01:19:34,065
(shouting continues)
1011
01:19:36,151 --> 01:19:38,402
Rosa: You need pressure
coming from abroad
1012
01:19:38,403 --> 01:19:44,366
to force that regime to submit
to the will of the people.
1013
01:19:44,367 --> 01:19:46,494
(speaking Spanish)
1014
01:19:46,661 --> 01:19:48,370
(reporter speaking Spanish)
1015
01:19:48,371 --> 01:19:50,498
(Rosa speaking English)
1016
01:19:52,959 --> 01:19:55,210
interviewer: What can
the Biden administration
1017
01:19:55,211 --> 01:19:57,963
do to support
the Cuban, uh, people?
1018
01:19:57,964 --> 01:20:01,383
The U.S. should apply
individual targeted sanctions
1019
01:20:01,384 --> 01:20:03,344
against the repressors,
1020
01:20:03,345 --> 01:20:06,013
against the ones
that are ordering the military
1021
01:20:06,014 --> 01:20:08,515
to shut down
young people in the streets.
1022
01:20:08,516 --> 01:20:11,102
(Rosa speaking Spanish)
1023
01:20:15,899 --> 01:20:18,109
(speaking Spanish)
1024
01:20:20,278 --> 01:20:22,112
Nanfu: From one interview
to another,
1025
01:20:22,113 --> 01:20:24,865
Rosa repeated the same list
of requests.
1026
01:20:24,866 --> 01:20:27,910
But the topic of the embargo
kept coming up.
1027
01:20:27,911 --> 01:20:30,371
One of the things
talked about on social media
1028
01:20:30,372 --> 01:20:33,832
and by politicians
is the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
1029
01:20:33,833 --> 01:20:35,376
(protestors shouting)
1030
01:20:35,377 --> 01:20:38,337
reporter: The embargo has been
a highly volatile issue
1031
01:20:38,338 --> 01:20:42,508
in South Florida since it
was implemented in 1962.
1032
01:20:42,509 --> 01:20:44,093
The poll
shows Cuban Americans
1033
01:20:44,094 --> 01:20:45,844
are split right
down the middle.
1034
01:20:45,845 --> 01:20:48,847
We don't want intervention.
Lift the blockade.
1035
01:20:48,848 --> 01:20:53,018
We need to maintain this embargo
to try to keep pushing
1036
01:20:53,019 --> 01:20:55,771
the end of that dictator
communist socialist.
1037
01:20:55,772 --> 01:20:58,357
The biggest support
the Biden administration
1038
01:20:58,358 --> 01:21:01,652
would offer to the Cuban people
is to lift the sanctions.
1039
01:21:01,653 --> 01:21:03,988
(speaking Spanish)
1040
01:21:06,074 --> 01:21:09,076
I would like to know, Miss Payá,
should the embargo be lifted?
1041
01:21:09,077 --> 01:21:12,037
The international community
is very, very clear
1042
01:21:12,038 --> 01:21:14,498
that the embargo
has no moral basis
1043
01:21:14,499 --> 01:21:15,624
and should be lifted.
1044
01:21:15,625 --> 01:21:17,501
That's-- that's your opinion.
The people on the street
1045
01:21:17,502 --> 01:21:20,713
is not asking for the lifting
of the embargo.
1046
01:21:20,714 --> 01:21:23,716
It's asking for the end
of the dictatorship.
1047
01:21:23,717 --> 01:21:25,592
But we need the end
of the dictatorship...
1048
01:21:25,593 --> 01:21:26,969
Nanfu:
At first, I was surprised
1049
01:21:26,970 --> 01:21:30,014
that Rosa didn't advocate
lifting the embargo.
1050
01:21:30,015 --> 01:21:32,224
It seemed like a simple way
1051
01:21:32,225 --> 01:21:33,934
of improving
the quality of life
1052
01:21:33,935 --> 01:21:36,270
for ordinary Cubans.
1053
01:21:36,271 --> 01:21:39,148
It was only through
our off-camera conversations
1054
01:21:39,149 --> 01:21:42,317
that I learned Rosa's
real opinion about the embargo.
1055
01:21:42,318 --> 01:21:44,778
She worried that lifting
the embargo
1056
01:21:44,779 --> 01:21:46,572
would benefit
the Cuban government
1057
01:21:46,573 --> 01:21:48,323
more than its people.
1058
01:21:48,324 --> 01:21:49,450
(speaking Spanish)
1059
01:21:49,451 --> 01:21:51,285
Nanfu: In interviews,
whenever she was asked
1060
01:21:51,286 --> 01:21:53,912
about the embargo,
she would deflect,
1061
01:21:53,913 --> 01:21:56,331
arguing that the embargo
was a distraction
1062
01:21:56,332 --> 01:21:59,168
from the real problem,
the Cuban government.
1063
01:21:59,169 --> 01:22:01,170
The Cuban people
is not demanding
1064
01:22:01,171 --> 01:22:03,172
the end of the embargo
in the streets.
1065
01:22:03,173 --> 01:22:05,883
They are demanding
the end of the dictatorship.
1066
01:22:05,884 --> 01:22:07,468
They were not asking
for the end of the embargo,
1067
01:22:07,469 --> 01:22:10,637
they were asking for the end
of the dictatorship.
1068
01:22:10,638 --> 01:22:14,183
Nanfu: Shortly after
the outbreak protests in Cuba,
1069
01:22:14,184 --> 01:22:17,353
Rosa was invited
to a congressional hearing
1070
01:22:17,354 --> 01:22:20,856
about how the U.S. could
support democracy in Cuba.
1071
01:22:20,857 --> 01:22:23,942
We urge the U.S. government
not to make
1072
01:22:23,943 --> 01:22:25,861
unilateral concessions
to the regime.
1073
01:22:25,862 --> 01:22:27,363
Thank you for this opportunity,
1074
01:22:27,364 --> 01:22:29,114
and thank you
to the American people.
1075
01:22:29,115 --> 01:22:30,866
Thank you very much.
1076
01:22:30,867 --> 01:22:33,535
Nanfu: It was clear early on
that the embargo
1077
01:22:33,536 --> 01:22:34,703
would dominate the meeting,
1078
01:22:34,704 --> 01:22:36,497
and the members
from both parties
1079
01:22:36,498 --> 01:22:39,166
have made up their minds
on the subject.
1080
01:22:39,167 --> 01:22:40,709
I just want to point out
that I, myself,
1081
01:22:40,710 --> 01:22:43,212
have been a long-time opponent
of lifting the embargo.
1082
01:22:43,213 --> 01:22:45,214
Our biggest trading partner
of the United States
1083
01:22:45,215 --> 01:22:47,592
is a communist country, China.
1084
01:22:48,718 --> 01:22:50,427
We have no embargo
against China.
1085
01:22:50,428 --> 01:22:53,430
This insane notion
that lifting the embargo
1086
01:22:53,431 --> 01:22:55,683
is going to somehow
provide freedom
1087
01:22:55,684 --> 01:22:57,726
for the Cuban people is crazy.
1088
01:22:57,727 --> 01:22:59,061
It's absurd, and the only...
1089
01:22:59,062 --> 01:23:01,063
Nanfu: It wasn't long
before the two parties
1090
01:23:01,064 --> 01:23:02,564
started attacking each other.
1091
01:23:02,565 --> 01:23:05,109
The Cubans are on the street,
and no one is paying attention,
1092
01:23:05,110 --> 01:23:06,568
including the Biden
administration.
1093
01:23:06,569 --> 01:23:09,613
Those in the Republican party
have a lot of nerve
1094
01:23:09,614 --> 01:23:15,202
suggesting that they are the--
the champions of freedom
1095
01:23:15,203 --> 01:23:17,496
in another country,
when they are engaging
1096
01:23:17,497 --> 01:23:21,292
in suppression of the people's
right to vote and freedom here.
1097
01:23:22,002 --> 01:23:25,587
If I make a-- a call,
a request for all of you,
1098
01:23:25,588 --> 01:23:29,591
it's to please, to listen
to what the Cuban people
1099
01:23:29,592 --> 01:23:31,093
is demanding on the street.
1100
01:23:31,094 --> 01:23:36,223
At-- at the highest
possible risk, which is life,
1101
01:23:36,224 --> 01:23:38,058
they are demanding freedom.
1102
01:23:38,059 --> 01:23:41,103
They are demanding the end
of the dictatorship.
1103
01:23:41,104 --> 01:23:44,148
Please, do not politicize that.
1104
01:23:44,149 --> 01:23:46,484
(people chattering)
1105
01:23:56,286 --> 01:23:59,121
Nanfu: Beyond a few statements
and some additional sanctions
1106
01:23:59,122 --> 01:24:01,498
against Cuban government
officials,
1107
01:24:01,499 --> 01:24:05,127
the U.S. government's
Cuba policy barely changed
1108
01:24:05,128 --> 01:24:06,962
after the protests.
1109
01:24:06,963 --> 01:24:10,258
(guitar music playing)
1110
01:24:13,636 --> 01:24:17,264
Witnessing Rosa's disappointing
encounter with Congress
1111
01:24:17,265 --> 01:24:21,310
and watching this opportunity
for change in Cuba come and go,
1112
01:24:21,311 --> 01:24:25,482
made me reflect on the years
I've spent watching Rosa fight.
1113
01:24:26,274 --> 01:24:28,943
I had followed her
from the streets of Havana...
1114
01:24:29,736 --> 01:24:32,696
to rallies and conferences
across the world...
1115
01:24:32,697 --> 01:24:34,198
(applause)
1116
01:24:34,199 --> 01:24:37,326
...to the halls of power
in Washington,
1117
01:24:37,327 --> 01:24:40,204
and I didn't feel any closer
to understanding
1118
01:24:40,205 --> 01:24:43,833
where change will come from
than when we started.
1119
01:24:45,210 --> 01:24:48,463
(dramatic music playing)
1120
01:24:50,048 --> 01:24:51,799
I decided to sit down with Rosa
1121
01:24:51,800 --> 01:24:54,677
and watch everything
we had been through together.
1122
01:24:54,678 --> 01:24:57,262
(Rosa speaking English on film)
1123
01:24:57,263 --> 01:24:58,806
Rosa:
...and in our actions.
1124
01:24:58,807 --> 01:25:02,351
We need all the support
the international community...
1125
01:25:02,352 --> 01:25:05,689
(person shouting in Spanish)
1126
01:25:08,358 --> 01:25:10,526
Nanfu: As I sat here
thinking about everything
1127
01:25:10,527 --> 01:25:14,321
I had experienced,
it felt just as easy for me
1128
01:25:14,322 --> 01:25:17,491
to imagine Cuba and China
becoming free
1129
01:25:17,492 --> 01:25:22,122
as it was to imagine America
sliding into autocracy.
1130
01:25:24,040 --> 01:25:26,208
It seemed rational
to feel powerless
1131
01:25:26,209 --> 01:25:28,586
in light of everything
I'd seen.
1132
01:25:30,547 --> 01:25:33,841
Did you feel discouraged
by seeing
1133
01:25:33,842 --> 01:25:35,551
what you have tried to achieve,
1134
01:25:35,552 --> 01:25:38,555
and yet very little
has been changed?
1135
01:25:39,931 --> 01:25:41,807
(sighs)
1136
01:25:41,808 --> 01:25:43,601
Uh...
1137
01:25:46,021 --> 01:25:47,605
I feel...
1138
01:25:50,108 --> 01:25:51,233
frustrated.
1139
01:25:51,234 --> 01:25:53,944
But I do not feel discouraged.
1140
01:25:53,945 --> 01:25:55,446
I feel the opposite.
1141
01:25:55,447 --> 01:25:59,533
How many times before you saw
hundreds of thousands of Cubans
1142
01:25:59,534 --> 01:26:01,910
chanting "Freedom"
and "Down with the dictatorship"
1143
01:26:01,911 --> 01:26:03,496
in the streets?
1144
01:26:04,414 --> 01:26:07,624
I mean, if that's not something
that give you hope,
1145
01:26:07,625 --> 01:26:09,461
I don't know what is it.
1146
01:26:10,879 --> 01:26:12,922
(sirens wailing in the distance)
1147
01:26:16,259 --> 01:26:21,221
If we get to the conclusion
that we are powerless,
1148
01:26:21,222 --> 01:26:22,598
then we are.
1149
01:26:22,599 --> 01:26:25,559
That's the most comfortable
position
1150
01:26:25,560 --> 01:26:28,312
for an authoritarian
to convince you
1151
01:26:28,313 --> 01:26:30,647
there is nothing you can do.
1152
01:26:30,648 --> 01:26:32,776
(sirens wailing)
1153
01:26:33,610 --> 01:26:39,281
If we stop ourselves
even before trying,
1154
01:26:39,282 --> 01:26:41,200
then they already won,
1155
01:26:41,201 --> 01:26:44,329
and they base their strategy
on that.
1156
01:26:45,163 --> 01:26:47,415
(people shouting)
1157
01:26:48,375 --> 01:26:51,460
That's why there are
1,000 Cubans
1158
01:26:51,461 --> 01:26:54,213
in jail right now,
because the Cuban regime
1159
01:26:54,214 --> 01:26:57,591
cannot live with those guys
in the streets.
1160
01:26:57,592 --> 01:27:01,762
They are trying to prevent
what all those Cubans
1161
01:27:01,763 --> 01:27:03,765
could one day do.
1162
01:27:07,268 --> 01:27:09,229
Saylí is in jail.
1163
01:27:10,397 --> 01:27:12,690
And many other Saylís.
1164
01:27:12,691 --> 01:27:14,858
The main factor is that
the Cuban people want change
1165
01:27:14,859 --> 01:27:18,905
and is ready to risk everything
for that change.
1166
01:27:21,157 --> 01:27:22,700
Nanfu: Thousands of people
were arrested
1167
01:27:22,701 --> 01:27:25,370
for participating
in the protests.
1168
01:27:26,287 --> 01:27:28,163
Rosa's friend Saylí
was sentenced
1169
01:27:28,164 --> 01:27:29,873
to eight years in prison,
1170
01:27:29,874 --> 01:27:33,127
and her father
was sentenced to nine years.
1171
01:27:33,128 --> 01:27:35,546
The government gave them
a choice:
1172
01:27:35,547 --> 01:27:39,258
leave Cuba forever
or serve the full sentence.
1173
01:27:39,259 --> 01:27:41,553
(sea birds calling)
1174
01:27:43,847 --> 01:27:45,849
(Saylí speaking Spanish)
1175
01:28:13,960 --> 01:28:17,005
(dramatic music playing)
1176
01:28:21,593 --> 01:28:24,054
(all chanting in Spanish)
1177
01:28:26,890 --> 01:28:28,933
(speaking Spanish)
1178
01:28:43,114 --> 01:28:45,367
(all chanting in Spanish)
1179
01:28:48,703 --> 01:28:51,246
Nanfu: For years,
I tried to understand
1180
01:28:51,247 --> 01:28:54,376
how ordinary people
could create change.
1181
01:28:55,627 --> 01:28:58,212
(protestors chanting
in Chinese)
1182
01:28:58,213 --> 01:29:03,093
But change isn't like a story
with a beginning and an end.
1183
01:29:07,263 --> 01:29:09,516
(cameras clicking)
1184
01:29:10,433 --> 01:29:12,686
(speaker 1 speaking Spanish)
1185
01:29:14,396 --> 01:29:16,523
(speaker 2 speaking Spanish)
1186
01:29:23,988 --> 01:29:27,409
(speaking Spanish)
1187
01:29:37,585 --> 01:29:40,629
Nanfu:
Change grows slowly, unseen,
1188
01:29:40,630 --> 01:29:43,591
with its roots tangled
in history.
1189
01:29:44,592 --> 01:29:46,845
(speaking Spanish)
1190
01:29:51,474 --> 01:29:52,725
Nanfu:
But then, suddenly,
1191
01:29:52,726 --> 01:29:55,436
it can spring up
out of nowhere.
1192
01:29:55,437 --> 01:29:57,731
(shouting in Chinese)
1193
01:30:05,405 --> 01:30:07,657
(shouting in Chinese)
1194
01:30:12,537 --> 01:30:14,789
(shouting in Chinese)
1195
01:30:16,458 --> 01:30:20,294
Nanfu: In 2022,
China saw its largest protests
1196
01:30:20,295 --> 01:30:21,920
since Tiananmen Square.
1197
01:30:21,921 --> 01:30:24,424
(shouting in Chinese)
1198
01:30:26,551 --> 01:30:28,135
Nanfu:
Hearing chants of freedom
1199
01:30:28,136 --> 01:30:31,973
echoing through Chinese streets
felt like a dream.
1200
01:30:33,266 --> 01:30:35,518
(protestors shouting)
1201
01:30:36,936 --> 01:30:39,981
(dramatic music playing)
1202
01:30:42,692 --> 01:30:44,903
(shouting in Chinese)
1203
01:30:50,367 --> 01:30:54,537
Nanfu:
I've now come to realize
that optimism is a choice.
1204
01:30:55,288 --> 01:30:59,708
It's choosing, even when
no clear end is in sight,
1205
01:30:59,709 --> 01:31:03,253
to remain defiant until
change becomes a reality.
1206
01:31:03,254 --> 01:31:05,590
(shouting in Chinese)
1207
01:31:06,758 --> 01:31:10,011
(protestors continue shouting)
1208
01:31:23,650 --> 01:31:25,902
(voices fade out)
1209
01:31:27,445 --> 01:31:30,657
(Latin music playing)
1210
01:31:36,121 --> 01:31:39,165
(performers singing in Spanish)
1211
01:33:25,355 --> 01:33:27,607
(music fades out)