Daniel Brühl (“Inglourious Basterds”), Paz Vega (“Spanglish”) and Mia Maestro have all signed on to star in Bobby Moresco’s “Castro’s Daughter,” a project about the Cuban dictator’s exiled daughter Alina Fernandez first mentioned in the trade in May 2008 so this one’s been in the works for a while now.
The picture is expected to shoot in Puerto Rico in late spring and was written by Moresco who won an Academy Award for co-writing “Crash” with Paul Haggis (let’s hope he wrote the good bits; through truthfully Haggis’ “In The Valley Of Elah” is underrated).
Moresco co- wrote the screenplay with Nilo Cruz (“Anna in the Tropics”), a Cuban American who was the first Hispanic to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
Spanish actress Paz Vega, know for roles in “Sex & Lucia” and a small role in Almodovar’s “Talk To Her” among other Spanish language films, will play the titular character. Mia Maestro is an Argentinian actress known for roles in “The Motorcycle Diaries” and to us, Lucrecia Martel’s heavily underrated arthouse film, “La niña santa.”
Variety does not mention what roles Bruhl or Maestro will play, but there’s a whole website already set up for this film that gives plenty of details, including a lengthy synopsis. Though admittedly, no real insight into their roles.
Fernandez was the result of a love affair Castro had prior to taking power in Cuba, and grew up hidden in the shadows of her father and the Revolution. As a child, Fernandez recalls Castro secretly visiting her home during the odd hours of the night; and also recalls a close relationship with him during her early years. At the age of ten, she finally learned the truth: that the man who paid special attention to her, and who she had seen on television giving speeches for hours on end, was her father.
As she grew up, Fernandez realized her position in Cuban society; and as she matured recognized her personal differences with her father and his form of government. Eventually, Fernandez began speaking out against Castro and the Revolution–and became a dissident forbidden to leave Cuba. In 1993, after several failed attempts, her international escape made headlines around the world when she fled the island on an airplane disguised as a Spanish tourist.
The film is set against a larger story, and takes a historical glance through the eyes of the daughter of one of the most influential, longest standing communist leaders the world has known
When first announced, the project was said not to be a straight biopic tale or a simple escape story, but was being envisioned as a multi-plot story a la “Crash” that will show the Cuban and American perspectives and ideologies along with Fernandez’s story. Hmm, that sounds less inviting. We guess we’ll see.