HAVANA

US, 1990, 144 minutes, Colour.
Robert Redford, Raoul Julia, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin, Thomas Milian, Daniel Davis, Tony Plana, Richard Farnsworth.
Directed by Sidney Pollack.

There is a wonderful plot about a gambler caught up in a war that he would prefer to avoid, falls in love with a woman who is married to a resistance leader… A kind of archetypal story of men and women changing each other, of love and glory – as time goes by.

Of course, it received its definitive treatment in Casablanca. John Duigan took it to Far East, to the Philippines, in the early 1980s. Now director, Sidney Pollack, has taken it back to Cuba, 1958 – 1959, and Castro’s revolution.

Havana was received poorly in the US (is it to pro-Central American revolutions?). It was criticised as too slow-moving. Certainly it will be for some tastes. However, it is enjoyable, with the appeal of the Casablanca variations, the meticulous re-creation of Havana and the period, the issues of heroism.

Robert Redford fits his role well (an ageing Gatsby?) And Lena all in is a very effective leading lady.The supporting cast, including Alan Arkin and an uncredited Raoul Julia, bring the situation to life. As always, it’s a matter of interests and taste.

1. Audience interest in and knowledge of the history of Cuba? 1898 and the American victory over the Spanish? The dictatorship of Battista? 1958 and the beginnings of the Cuban Revolution? Castro? The ensuing years? The administration team? The changes in Cuba and the Caribbean?

2. The Americans in Cuba, tourists, casinos, gambling, sex industry? The control by the Mafia? Meyer Lanskey?

3. The settings of the film, filmed in Santo Domingo? For Havana, the city, the detail, the streets, the apartments, casinos, police and prison areas, the boats? The countryside? The musical score?

4. The director and his work with Robert Redford over the decades? The big budget, the settings, costumes, re-creation of the period? The cast?

5. Audience response to the lavish and affluent lifestyle in Cuba at the time? Sympathy for the overthrow? The rebels and their cause?

6. The phenomenon of Castro, in the mountains, leading the revolution, the success, the takeover of Havana? The retrospective 1963 and Jack going to the ocean, his reflections on Castro and his success, the changes in Cuba, Castro even being on the Jack Paar show?

7. The credits, the flicking of the cards, the tone, introducing Jack, the gambling? The game on the boat? The captain and the other players? The interruption, the secret police? The cookbook author watching? The finding of the gun, Jack claiming responsibility, bribing the officers, the gun in the water? Roberta and her watching this?

8. Roberta, approaching Jack, the request? His decision to help? The immediate attraction, falling in love? Driving the car, his looking at the equipment being smuggled in? Being watched by the police, followed? Delivering the goods? Roberta and her gratitude?

9. Joe and his connections with Jack, the games at the casino, high stakes, the guests, Menocal and the police presence? The games, the bets, Jack asking Menocal Carl about Bobby – and the later answer?

10. The journalist, his continually questioning Jack, in the casino and, with the girls, seeing Bobby and Arturo?

11. The American girls, in Cuba for a good time, teaming up with Jack, his statement in the various clubs, the sex activities and their reaction, shock? Jack spending the night with two girls?

12. Jack going across, meeting Bobby, the introduction to Arturo, the political discussions, Jack opting out, Arturo and his views?

13. The newspaper headlines, the arrest of Arturo, report of his death, Bobby and the rebels? Bobby and her suffering the water torture? The interrogation? Menocal and his wanting information? The brutality of the torturer? Jack, the card game, the official who lost a lot of money, Jack tearing up his chit? The tickets to Miami, the cash? Bobby getting out of prison, with Jack, walking along the beachfront, her reflections, her explanation of her story, from Sweden, to California, wanting to be an actress, Mexico, meeting Arturo, marrying, coming to Cuba? Arturo and his wealthy family, the country estate? The contacts for the rebellion? The arrests, her trying to communicate? Going to the country, Jack driving to her house, passing through the soldier lines, the advantage of not speaking Spanish, coming back to Havana? The attraction of Jack, talk, his flat, the sexual encounter? Getting the boat ticket, making the arrangements?

14. Joe and Meyer Lansky, the Mafia exploitation of Cuba and the casinos? Cynical? Jack and his agreeing to go to the games, standing up the group, his going to Menocal and making the arrangements? The invasion of Havana, going for the walk with Joe, his plan to go to Santo Domingo?

15. The wealthy are still going to the casinos, the listening numbers, the rebel reaction of the staff at the casino, the wealthy guests running away, the invasion of the rebels?

16. The irony of Arturo being alive, the connection with the author on the boat, writing about cooking, his being a CIA agent? Jack threatening to expose him? His deal with Jack? Saying he was go to go into Indochina? Jack using the CIA connection, going to Arturo, Arturo’s anger about the relationship between Bobby and Jack? Menocal and his agreement – but his memories of Arturo’s family and their oppression? His leaving?

17. Bobby, the decision to stay, with Arturo? The discussion of Jack, his knowledge of cards and all the moves, his decision to leave?

18. The episode in 1963, Jack walking to the water, making comments about what had happened in the four years, Castro and the revolution, even appearing on Jack Paar’s show?

19. A retrospect of events in Cuba from 30 years on?