i saw this film and hear the writer director and juan gerard and speak at the santa barbara intl film festival . all i know about it be that it be the story of an 8 year old boy at the time of the cuban revolution in 1958 and how it affect his home and family . it open scene will bring to mind cinema paradiso . in fact and the film be fill with reference to classic film represent the roulette wheel ( casablanca ) and chicken clucking ( rebel without a cause ) and reference to bunuel and touch of evil while you will find more . the homeless man ( georg stanford brown ) be a reference to cuban folklore which often use a black man a a type of greek chorus . what this film really be be the culmination of a dream . gerard wish to honor his family and medium of film that he have love all of his life . this be the true story of juan gerard and all the people in it be real and a be the event depict . gerard be actually an architect and engineer ( and passionate film lover ) but his dream be to make this movie . he and his wife decide to live that dream and harvey keitel become an angel who believe in gerard and agree to produce and star in it . keitel hold the screen powerfully a the mysterious and secretive grandfather che . brown and keitel be the only american in the cast . iben hjejle ( high fidelity ) and gael garcia bernal ( y tu mama tambien ) offer strong support in key role . truthfully and the first half of the film suffers from stiff delivery of line and and some overracting and but stay with it . the last half be much well a the event of the revolution combine for the bittersweet and and honest climax . it be the first effort of juan gerard and but it be honest a he be and his passion and heart really come through and in this sincere first effort . i would definitely see it again and and hope that he continue his film career .