Papa: Hemingway in Cuba

If you are interested in the life of Hemingway then you might enjoy this movie. It was filmed in Cuba and it chronicled a fairly realistic picture of Hemingway near the end of his life. He was with wife #4, Mary Welch-Hemingway, at that time in his life (late 1950s). Ernest and Mary "adopt" a young Miami Herald reporter who is a big part of the movie (all based on true life). Anyway, Hemingway is a very frustrated man (unable to write or screw anymore) and subject to bouts of anger and depression. The back story is the Cuban Revolution. The movie is beautifully filmed with great color in and around Havana. The film includes his boat,The Pilar, his favorite bar, the Floridita and his actual home. The actor portraying Hemingway nailed the role in my view and the actress playing Mary H was also quite good. I thought the script was rather weak with some cornball dialog. I'm a Hemingway fan (and like drama vs "noise movies") so I enjoyed it. Hemingway took the "short way home" in Idaho less than two yrs after the events in this movie. Recommend.

- rarely translates into the true story itself, and this film follows suit. Screenwriters and producers have allowed themselves much artistic license in recreating the relationship of Denne Bart Petitclerc with the "Old Man" at the latter's Cuban retreat. As some reviewers have stated it's most notable for being the first US-produced movie shot in Havana since "Our Man in Havana" in 1959. I'm sure it took a lot of sprucing to restore Old Havana to its 1950s condition for the exterior shots; fortunately many props, like the period automobiles, were on hand.Technical errors abound: regarding the Cuban Revolution, it was not "Castro's rebels" that attacked Batista in the Presidential Palace, but Jose Echevarria's rival Revolutionary Student Directory, in early 1957, nearly two years before the date of this film. By then Castro was already in power. These kind of gaffes make me question the film's overall authenticity. Also, "Papa's" drinking cronies look like old 70s rockers (which these actors likely are), not the 1950's avante-garde they purport. Even Sparks comes across as more scruffy than the real Hemingway.But as a psychological portrait of a man tormented by his own genius, and the pitfalls of human relationships, it's worth the four stars. Our young reporter from Miami already knows betrayal from those nearest and dearest; there is nothing in the behavior of his literary icon at home to change his perception, leading him to question commitment to his own significant other. Of course this is resolved in the predictable Hollywood feel-good formula. Yet the issues raised are important in themselves.Like Danton's head, it's worth a look.

I know this film didn't get great reviews, but I really enjoyed it. I haven't been to Cuba, but I have visited the Hemingway house in Key West and have some idea of how he lived. This movie shows him warts and all, including his drinking, struggles with writing and cruelty to his wife, Mary. The story, loosely based on truth, is told through the eyes of a young newspaper reporter in Miami whom Hemingway "adopts" after the reporter sends him an admiring letter, asking for an interview. It's not a cheerful story-- though there are some good parties -- but then Papa wasn't an easy person to be around much of the time. I found the story fascinating.

Excellent portrayal of the last years of Hemingway in Cuba;.having been in Cuba in 2002 to tour their education system, I was delighted to see the realistic portrayal of the places that were important to him. I have been to the Vinca and was delighted to see that portions of the film were actually filmed at Hemingway's former residence... must see for people interested in the Hemingway legend.

A film with unknown actors, done well and believably, concerning Hemingway's love of alcohol, women, and his ultimate depression.Those who know Cuba history will note the careful way the revolution is handled, no doubt approved by the Havana censors, but it still is gripping and scary at appropriate times. Over-all this film deserved a longer theatrical life and is a worthy view for anyone interested in Hemingway and/or in Cuba.

In 1970 I was studing in an intern school that was adjacent to Hemingway's museum, his former house in San Francisco de Paula, Cuba and we used to visit it almost every day. It had beautiful terrains and several mangoes trees. For this reason and as a cuban american I was extremely curious about this film but I need to be very sincere, I never liked Hemingway's personality and anyway I tried to watch the film to the end but it was so boring and slow that I couldn't finish it.

This movie was really good! The acting, scrip, and settings were all great! The lead really even looked like Hemmingway, and was so credible as him. The scenes in Cuba were often magnificent, which really added to the sense of accuracy for it. Also, at some points the story was a little slow, and it's seemed incongruent for a movie about such an impassioned person to be slow-paced. Overall, it was an interesting film, and I recommend it. I would have probably liked it better if I were more of a Hemmingway fan, but that's just a personal preference.

Ever since someone gave me a shot glass in college with a Hemingway quote on it, I wondered if I should have read more of his work. This film goes beyond the well-known character of Hemmingway and shows us a relationship with a young writer revealing that this old man was worthy of being a character in this feature film. Showing his world of gin, girls, and guns, the reputation will continue to proceed him. Thanks to this filmmaking team for creating a must see for any Earnest Hemmingway fan. "Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another." - E. Hemingway

I was at Hemmingway's home just outside of Havana as well as many of the bars he frequented. This is an awesome movie shot on site. I didn't know he ran guns for Castro.

Recently received this movie! Couldn't find it in any store so am very happy I could order it on Amazon! Watched it a couple of weeks ago. Excellent story and wonderful acting by Adrian Sparks as Ernest Hemingway! Love Ernest!

Perfect

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