Broadcast of the documentary Sara y Diana in the Documentary Screen program of Cuban Television

July 13, 2018

Last Tuesday, July 10, Cuban television broadcast the documentary Sara y Diana by filmmaker Claudia Rojas on its documentary program Pantalla documental.

Sara González and Diana Balboa maintained a sentimental and creative relationship for 30 years; a time in which both the singer-songwriter and the recorder and ceramicist developed their careers in parallel, but at the same time came together in a concept of love and art as an attitude of freedom before society and life. The close communion of this couple and their contributions to Cuban culture are reflected in the documentary Sara y Diana. La Victoria, which premiered at the past International Festival of New Latin American Cinema.

The film is directed by filmmaker and actress Claudia Rojas who, thanks to the support of Diana Balboa, was able to access the intimate archive that the painter kept of her three decades alongside Sara González.

"The documentary goes beyond the relationship between Diana and Sara. It tells the story of two women who, each from their respective fields, have contributed and continue to contribute greatly to Cuban culture. It is a testimony to the dedication of these artists to Cuba and to the Revolution. It is also the testimony of a beautiful love," Claudia told Granma.

Claudia Rojas has developed a career as a documentarian, in which she has made it her mission to explore the spirituality of people and the lesser-explored areas of human existence. Among her filmography are titles such as Fe, Gloria, and Repatriación. Before taking her talents behind the camera, she worked as an actress in the iconic La Vida es Silbar by Fernando Pérez, in which she won the Best New Actress award at the 20th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema; in Miel para Ochún by Humberto Solás, and La novia de Lázaro by Spanish director Fernando Merinero. Her creative portfolio also stands out for a successful career in the world of theater.

In the film, Claudia explores one of the least visible facets of both artists' lives. "Diana told me that she met Sara when she was barely 16 years old. Later, over time, they established a relationship that was synonymous with freedom in every sense. All of that vast, inner world, treasured by both of them, I tried to reflect in this documentary," comments the filmmaker.

The narrative arc of the work extends to Sara's death and the moment when her ashes were scattered in Havana Bay. "The support of Diana, Claudia insists, was decisive in the making of this film that I hope will be understood in all its dimensions."

Diana Balboa, for her part, considers the documentary as a testimony of faith and courage. "This documentary is, above all, a show of courage. She asked me to do this based on an emotional intimacy that people don't know about. It's the first time I've shared this type of personal archives with someone who needs it from another point of view. I had done it on other occasions when they asked me to reflect only our lives from the art perspective. Now it's about a statement on two women who did not hide their love and neither did they boast about it. We lived our relationship naturally, knowing that it was something very serious, that it was our choice and that from our small sphere we could contribute greatly to Cuba," explains the artist.

For the realization of the documentary, Claudia drew upon an extensive photographic archive, compilations of reviews about the careers of both artists, concert notes, songs and exhibitions, among other personal documents that serve as testimony to the life and creation of these two Cuban women.