In December 2014, the Obama administration admitted the daunting truth that had already surfaced in the eyes of the world long ago- the failure of U.S. policy against communist Cuba!
The policy came to light when the members of “The Cuban Five”, an organization of spies which infiltrated anti-Castro terrorist groups responsible for bombings in Havana, plane Hijacking, conspiracy against the Cuban government among other terrorist activities and operating from Miami (Florida), were charged to “conspiracy against the U.S. Government” (among several other charges of espionage) and confined in prisons.
Based on Fernando Morais’ book “The Last soldiers on the Cold War”, Olivier Assayas’ detailed emotional drama about “The Cuban Five” is set to release on Netflix this June 19, 2020.
First premiered on the Venice Film Festival, “Wasp Network” was nominated for the “Golden Lion”, it also premiered in several other films festivals like the New York Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival among others.
Olivier Assayas is no stranger to the international film community, he started his career writing for the influential magazine “Cahiers Du Cinema”, his film “Something in the air” was also nominated for the “Golden Lion” at Venice, “Clouds of Sils Maria” featuring Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart (won Ceasar for best actress) competed for the Palm d’Or at Cannes, he won the Best Director at Cannes for the film “Personal Shopper” (my favourite) which also starred Kristen Stewart. Although “Wasp Network” opened to mixed reviews due to the overwhelming emotional stance and glamorized portrayal of the spies (both literal and metaphorical), it garnered much attention among the fans of Morais and Assayas alike. Featuring stellar acting performances from Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez among others, the film was appreciated for its bold stand against the U.S. foreign policies, the involvement of First-World countries in organized international terrorism and the abuse or torture that “The Cuban Five” faced for protecting their motherland.
The film follows a group of Cuban spies or “Red Avispa” (Wasp Network), who, in the 1990s, infiltrated many anti-Castro militant groups responsible for deadly, treacherous terrorist activities and “crimes against humanity” in communist Cuba. These terrorist organizations operated from Miami, Florida and so, the Cuban spies “Defect” to America leaving their families and friends behind and keeping their “defect” a secret. The Spies were arrested by the U.S. government in 1998 and put to trials resulting in prisons. These spies are celebrated as “National Heroes” of Cuba in real life.