WASP NETWORK
France, 2019, 127 minutes, Colour.
Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Ana de Armas, Wagner Moura, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Nolan Guerra, Tony Plana.
Directed by Olivier Assayas.
This is a Cuban story. The setting is the 1990s. Fidel Castro is getting older. Sanctions by the American government are biting. Life is difficult in Havana and in the countryside. So many of the Cuban refugees have settled in Miami, some for many decades, others still attempting to escape Cuba.
While the material is intrinsically interesting, the earlier part of the film seems rather ordinary, not particularly exciting. The advice would be to give the film about 50 minutes and then there is a plot twist which gives the opportunity for the audience to be more involved. However, the film does not have the dramatic tension that the subject would indicate, so, while interesting, it is somewhat disappointing, especially since the director, Olivier Assayas, had made the series on the terrorist, Carlos (with Edgar Ramirez).
The film opens in Cuba, focusing on pilot and trainer, René (Edgar Ramirez), married to Olga (Penelope Cruz, a glowing screen presence even when she is working in a factory), with a daughter. All seems normal enough even with the difficulties in Havana. René goes on a regular flight – but, preserving cover, flies to Miami and applies for American residence. Which he gains.
This leads to the opening up of the world of intrigue between Miami and Havana. René is introduced to the leaders of Cuban exiles in the US, offering his flying services, accepted by the leaders and given various missions. The leaders have harsh memories of the revolution, of the Castro regime, are bent on disrupting events in Havana, even to terrorism. René also becomes friendly with another refugee from Cuba, a charmer with a following, Juan Pablo (Wagner Moura) and his glamorous fiancee (Ana de Armas).
What emerges is that the Cuban government fights back against the Miami exiles and their leadership, infiltrating them, reporting back to frustrate the terrorist disruptions – although, the audience is shown a Latin American courier who plants bombs in the main hotels in Havana.
The second part of the film shows René in a different light, his mission in Miami, his reconciliation with his wife, the negotiations to bring her and her daughter to the US, the giving birth, her being returned to Cuba.
Later in the film, a significant character is introduced, Gerard (Gael Garcia Bernal) who is commissioned to coordinate the Cuban infiltrators in the US. When the group is arrested, René refuses to give any information about the other prisoners, and their serving a sentence in US jails.
In looking at reviews and bloggers, we find that there are divided opinions, especially because of political interests (bias?). Some comment that this is Cuban propaganda. Others see it as a picture of American policy against Communist regime.
The material and the characters are interesting – but, with so much material, this may have been better served as a specialised miniseries for television.
1. The title? The connection and network in Miami and the US, Latin America? The role of Cuba?
2. The subject, based on fact? The characters, the work, exiles in Miami, life in Cuba, infiltration of organisations? The Castro regime? American sanctions? Terrorist activities against Havana? The American government and the CIA?
3. The 1990s, towards the end of the Castro regime, memories of the revolution? The effect of the American sanctions? The life of the exiles in Miami? Preserving traditions? Culture? Anti-Communist? The Catholic tradition? The clergy and ceremonies?
4. René and his story, his work as a pilot, marriage to Olga, the daughter? His flights and training? His leaving home, taking the plane, going to Miami, the American government officials, the interrogations, his being granted residence? His getting flight jobs? Encounters with the exiles in Miami, the different meetings with the leadership, their intentions, his flights for them? Surveillance? The Coast Guard?
5. Renee in his principles, trying to contact Olga, his concern about her, their daughter? Letters, not replying? The tensions over the years? His work and friends in the US? Olga and her work in the factory? The years passing?
6. One Pablo, the Playboy style, life in Miami, his following, the organisations, the jobs? His relationship with Ana Margarita? Her background, style? The engagement? Tensions between them? The wedding ceremony? One Pablo and his sudden returning to Cuba?
7. Gerard, his background, studies, his being chosen to coordinate the network? Over the years, the various members, frustrating the CIA and the American attempts with the Miami exiles to disrupt Cuba?
8. The long episode of the recruiting of the young man in Central America, his mission, the bombs, going to Havana, leaving the bombs in the various hotels, the explosions, injuries and deaths, his being followed, arrested?
9. Olga and her reconciliation with René, pregnant, the birth of the child, the daughter in America, becoming American?
10. René, his arrest, with Gerard, the trials and imprisonment? Olga and his daughter having to return to Cuba? Serving out his sentence?
11. Audience comments on the perspective of the film – as pro Cuba? As pro US?
