Cuba - Resiliance is a theme based documentary directed by Dr Louis Lam, a medical expeditionist and cultural anthropologist who travels all over the world to tell inspirational stories about the local people and culture, their views about themselves versus the world, and current issues that reflect much wider influences. The film takes the audience into the struggling post-COVID economy of Havana, the food rationing, poverty, and the surprising resilience and spirits of the Cubans who are going through tough periods of time under the communist regime. It follows a local Cuban family Asiledih and Frank with their talented daughter musician and singer, Glenda, through the many faces of culture, food, and music there despite the hardship. It visits the home of a local mother in poverty stricken area of Havana with her son. The film takes the audience back in time to the past glorious days with still vintage cars from the 50s roam on the streets of Cuba. It visits iconic places as the still bustling Floridita, Hotel Nationale, the original mojitos at La Bodeguita Del Medio, and into the modern arts of Fusterland and Afro-Cuban culture of Callejon de Hamel. It interviews a local artist Beatrice Santacana and her passion on award winning ceramic arts and takes us to the progressive Fabrica de Arte Cubano with the Sintesis Band. It visits the old Chinatown where only a few immigrants are left after the big exodus under the Fidel Castro rule. The film was also shot in the small suburban town of Cojimar where Ernest Hemingway began writing his book The Old Man and The Sea. There, it interviewed a local Edel with the iconic Arroz con Pollo, Cuban chicken rice. The journey continues southwest for two hours into the region of Vinales with an interview with a local cigar farmer and the giant line stone painting of the valley. Just outside Havana, it interviews an Cuban exchange student with China, Maria, who talks about her struggle to go abroad again. The film ends at a typical parador, a type of family owned eateries who are able to bypass the communist rule that restaurants should be state owned. There, famous local dishes such as ropa vieja, picadillo, masas de cerdo frita, and carne con papa are served.

Filmed in July, 2022.