Jim Mitsos is an 86 year old millionaire socialist who has not lost 'the faith',
despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. He still believes that "the dream of a socialist
paradise" lives on in Cuba where Jim has given away substantial portions of his
fortune over the years. He commissions filmmaker David Bradbury to return to Cuba to
make a film and return with evidence that the dream is still alive, or so Jim thinks,
for most Cubans.
As the filmmaker uncovers the reality of dashed socialist dreams
laid bare by 40 years of imported grey drabness of Soviet style socialism, he discovers
a new generation's faith in the bright bauble of capitalism which has 'invaded' the country
as the desperate 'fix' that the now isolated Cuban leadership must reluctantly embrace.
It is set against a backdrop of fantastic music and undiscovered musicians that the
filmmaker encounters on his journey through Cuba.
Bradbury's quest sets up a moral dilemma for the filmmaker
who is here on Jim's money to bring back a positive story of the Revolution, but can't
help but see the contradictions as Cubans continue to grow quietly frustrated after more
than four decades of Fidel in power and one party rule. This sets the stage for an
interesting undercurrent and growing call for change that the filmmaker has documented
in this road movie film that he shot during three and a half months criss crossing the
country.
