Cuban Rafters (2002)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

How sad is this?

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Although I was born in Miami, my family is from Cuba. When I visited the country of my parents 3 years ago (from Havana to Pinar Del Rio trips), I was overcome with a deep sadness as to how pitiful the international media has covered the plight of Cubans on the island. Finally! This movie captures it all too well and so realistically, so accurately, so heroically! It's about time! Regardless of how one feels about Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton and the changes the US has made on Cuba's refugee policies, the people of Cuba live in absolute misery. No other 3rd world country in the Western Hemisphere has so much misery as Cuba. Economic poverty is not Cuba's worst problem. Misery is! Everywhere I went people on the island of Cuba lived in misery, fear, mistrust, suspicion, a basic ethos are missing, a will to live is gone, anxiety, depression, loneliness, desperateness and more. If you want to understand the situation in Cuba as it is today, watch this film. Pity that Hollywood films in America don't report the truth as it is, without getting bogged down on their stupid political self-righteous statements from their comfortable palatial Hollywood homes.Watch this movie. It's great!

This is a great documentary.If it raises a question in your minds about Cuba vs the USA, just remember that in Cuba they have guards on the beach to stop people LEAVING, whilst in the USA the guards are there to stop people ARRIVING.Cuban 'Balseros' can return to Cuba anytime - and under the agreement with the USA they will not be prosecuted nor imprisoned.Life is hard in all countries - including the USA. I have traveled extensively in Cuba, and few Cubans have any illusions about life in America. 'Freedom' is not their main aim - rather it is an improvement to their economic lives. They want the OPPORTUNITY to better themselves and their children.

I thought this documentary was wonderful, it brought tears to my eyes and it showed one face of Cubans that the world does not get to see. This documentary gives the audience an opportunity to see how people risk their lives in order to start over, in order to make their dreams come true. The stories showed in this movie have different endings which the audience can judge as successful or not. It does not only talk about exile but life in the U.S. and the so called "American Dream" I hope that many people get a chance to view this film, it certainly has many messages. For Cubans is one more reason to look back and remember where we came from and what were some of the reasons why we came to the U.S.

This documentary is a gripping look at seven Cuban's daring escapes from their home country, and depressing US destinations. The movie beautifully portrays Cuba in a negative but wistful light, a light that seems all the better when the battered Cubans begin their bland new lives as Americans. Family drama overshadows the greater drama of the desperate exits from Cuba, but in the end nothing has changed. The little these people had in Cuba is eventually pined over when they are left with nothing in the US. An amazing but depressing film, Balseros shows us that the grass is always greener on the other side; except in America, where there is no grass left.