Vietnam Through the Eyes of Santiago Alvarez

Three films made by, or about, Cuban filmmaker Santiago Alvarez, followed by Q+A with his son Osian Alvarez, alongside Hugo Rivalta.

Los Ojos de Santiago / The Eyes of Santiago

Osain Alvarez and Rodrigo Vazquez I Cuba / Vietnam I 2021 I Doc I 80m I Spanish and Vietnamese with English subtitles

Osain, son of revolutionary filmmaker Santiago Álvarez, retraces his father’s journey to Vietnam to uncover the passion that drove him to risk his life documenting war, while confronting the lasting impact of Agent Orange 45 years on.

- Short break -

79 Primaveras / 79 Springs - premiere of the newly restored film.

Santiago Alvarez I Cuba 1969 I 25m

Documentary marking the death of Vietnamese nationalist leader Ho Chí Minh, using found footage to link his work to worldwide political movements including the Cuban revolution and resistance within the USA to the Vietnam war.

Hanoi,Tuesday 13th - premiere of the newly restored film

Santiago Alvarez I Cuba 1967 I 19m

Filmed in Hanoi on December 13, 1967, this documentary records the lives of people in the Vietnam capital and surrounding countryside at the height of U.S. bombing. Their daily activities are presented in a collage of images: building irrigation ditches, planting rice, fishing, weaving...life continued despite the shower of U.S. bombs. During these air raids, the people formed armed self-defense units so efficient that the life of the nation was not interrupted. + Guest Q&A Osain Alvarez & Hugo Rivalta & Rodrigo Vázquez-Salessi

Read this article about Santiago Álvarez' work by HGFF Writer Brian Beadie.