Framed by the beautiful poetry of the oppressed Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas, this revealing documentary features memorable portraits of five gay men and one transsexual woman living in and around Havana. Their disparate stories and candid interviews dispel myths while demonstrating a range of experience, opinion and social status: A vibrant nineteen year old, Raudel attends illegal gay parties, since the government still cracks down on queer gatherings; Tomas is a former colleague of Arenas, still deeply in touch with the revolutionary spirit; A courageous and talented photographer, Eduardo explores the mythology of Cuban machismo through his work; Imperio is an HIV-positive drag artist performing in the illegal cabarets; Alexy is the son of a Communist official living under the radar on the Malecon; and Isabel is a transsexual woman whose triumphant spirit helps her survive in a hate-filled world.
It has been more than ten years since the success of films like Strawberry and Chocolate and Gay Cuba, so Two Homelands provides a fresh and important look at the present-day gay culture and community of an often misunderstood country that is still stuck in the past but also very dynamic and full of surprises. While exploring their contemporary struggle for sexual liberation, German director Christian Liffers offers intimate access to the private lives and the two homelands of these queer Cubans. Cuba is the country where they live, but the night is where they thrive. — COREY EUBANKS, Frameline Films
"Portrayed with sensitivity", The New York Times
"...Liffers succeeds as auteur while approaching the abilities of a master metteur...
Technically and stylistically, the work of the crew is more than competent.
The silent cinematographic skill of Mirko Schemickau speaks volumes...
Liffers' and Schernickau's talents as visual scientists...a unique, entertaining and enlightening work", PhillyFest, Philadelphia
"...an extraordinary documentary", HBO Latino Film Festival, New York
"Six unforgettable personal stories", Miami Int'l Film Festival
"intimate interviews framed by outstanding musical performances", Media Arts Center, San Diego
”Life for gay men in Cuba is explored via six protags in novice helmer Christian Liffers' handsome "Two Homelands. Cuba and the Night." Nicely structured without being rigidly tied down, docu steers clear of colonialist patronizing or prurient exploitation, aiming instead for a more nuanced view of the Cuban character and gay life under Castro's homophobic rule. Respectful p.o.v. may leave those with pre-set notions wanting more, but Liffers doesn't go for polemics. A busy fest schedule could lead to arthouse play targeting the pink dollar.", Variety
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