Tania Libre
(Tania libre)
Lynn Hershman Leeson | Documentary
2017 | 73 minutes | Cuba, United States, Germany
In a fascinating and novel approach, Lynn Hershman Leeson allows us to eavesdrop on one of the world’s most celebrated—and daring—Cuban artists, Tania Bruguera’s session with Dr. Frank Ochberg, a New York-based psychiatrist and pioneer in post-traumatic stress disorder and the Stockholm syndrome.
Synopsis
How does incarceration affect an artist’s psyche? In a fascinating and novel approach, Lynn Hershman Leeson allows us to eavesdrop on one of the world’s most celebrated—and daring—Cuban artists, Tania Bruguera’s session with Dr. Frank Ochberg, a New York-based psychiatrist and pioneer in post-traumatic stress disorder and the Stockholm syndrome.
Bruguera visited Dr. Ochberg after spending eight months in prison accused for treason after announcing her intention to provide an uncensored platform for citizens in Havana to freely express their views in public for one minute. During the session, Bruguera eloquently reflects on the emotional ramifications of constant struggles with authorities, the psychological and physical effects of her interrogations, and a family dynamic that mirrors the subversive surveillance culture that many Cubans encounter in their daily life. The film touches upon broader issues related to the revolutionary potential of art, censorship, and the loss of civil liberties.
Reviews
"★★★ A provocative portrait of the artist, this is recommended." — Video Librarian
"It raises provocative questions about abusive familial structures and the ways that traumatic experiences of betrayal can play out on a larger political scale." — Vanessa Thill, Art in America Magazine
"Lynn Hershman Leeson is my hero. (Also Tania Bruguera and her ever-perceptive psychiatrist, Dr. Frank Ochberg, who specializes in PTSD, trauma bonds and father-fascists). Their film is about Cuba but has lessons for anyone anywhere dealing with the loss of civil liberties." — Jori Finkel, The Art Newspaper
"Their conversation is not concerned solely with the immediate fright of incarceration, but with the mechanisms of state censorship and propaganda. Politics becomes a performance in front of the audience, whose staging was more complex than any stage show." — Lida Bach, Movie Break
"The film's power stems from Bruguera's frankness in discussing her ordeals and Ochberg's insights into trauma. They discuss a range of topics, including Bruguera's father (a former diplomat and Castro loyalist), political leaders as father figures and Stockholm syndrome." — Jori Finkel, The Art Newspaper
"A haunting documentary that showcases...Bruguera coming to terms with the consequences of creating such an incendiary piece of art. Tilda Swinton lends her soothing and yet scrutinizing tones as the narrator." — Oliver Johnston, The Up Coming
"The Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award honors a filmmaker whose main body of work falls outside of the realm of narrative feature filmmaking. Recognized internationally for her innovative work investigating issues key to the workings of society... the relationship between identity and technology and the use of media against censorship and repression... Lynn Hershman Leeson's film, installation, and multimedia work continues to inspire audiences." — San Francisco International Film Festival
Citation
Main credits
Hershman Leeson, Lynn (film director)
Hershman Leeson, Lynn (film producer)
Ochberg, Frank M. (on-screen participant)
Bruguera, Tania (on-screen participant)
Swinton, Tilda (narrator)
Other credits
Cinematography, Hiro Narita, Shane King; editors, Lynn Hershman-Leeson, Shane King.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Activism
Biography
Caribbean Studies
Exile
Fascism + Repression
Human Rights
Latin American Studies
Mental Health
Migration Studies
Political Science
Visual Arts
Women
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Berlin Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival - The Golden Gate Persistence of Vision Award
Museum of Modern Art New York
DIRECTOR: Lynn Hershman Leeson
NATIONALITY: Cuba, United States, Germany
YEAR: 2017
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: English; Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
A History of an Assignment
Istoria odnoi komandirovki
The Cuban Wives
Las esposas cubanas
The Padilla Affair
El Caso Padilla
Return to Cuba
Volver a Cuba
Fidelandia: Behind the Curtain of Cuba's Revolution
Marina Abramovic in Brazil: The Space in Between
I Am the People: Venezuela Under Populism
El pueblo soy yo: Venezuela en populismo
Jaar. Lament of the Images
JAAR el lamento de las imágenes
Everybody Leaves
Todos se van
Red Gringo: American Pop Culture and Cold War in Latin America.
Gringo rojo
Angélica [a tragedy]
Angélica [una tragedia]
Lessons for Luca
Related Collections
Documentary Chronicles
A truthful examination and captivating glimpse into the complexities of the region.
Number of titles: 358
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Criminal Justice
A riveting selection of films that provoke conversations on topics such as wrongful convictions, systemic issues, life in prison, and the human stories behind crime and punishment.
Number of titles: 128
SEE COLLECTION >Immigration and Exile
A captivating exploration of migration and exile experiences.
Number of titles: 109
SEE COLLECTION >Women's Voices
These films challenge dominant narratives and offer compelling feminine visions of the region's past, present, and future.
Number of titles: 216
SEE COLLECTION >The Arts
A fascinating journey into the creative process and the transformative power of artistic expression.
Number of titles: 113
SEE COLLECTION >High School Collection
Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.
Number of titles: 509
SEE COLLECTION >Repression and Resistance
An exploration of Spain and Latin America’s authoritarian regimes and the movements that fought against them.
Number of titles: 91
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 621
SEE COLLECTION >