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Deep Dive: 90 Miles (2001)

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90 Miles
90 Miles is a 2001 documentary directed by Juan Carlos Zaldívar, recounting his experiences as a Marielito who left Cuba for Miami. The film captures Zaldívar's transition from a 13-year-old boy jeering at departing Marielitos to becoming one himself, highlighting the emotional complexities of exile. It uses a mix of news clips, family photos, and home movies to portray the historical context of the Cuban Revolution and its impact on families like Zaldívar's. The narrative focuses on the struggles of Zaldívar's family as they adapt to life in the United States. While Zaldívar and his sisters find success and happiness, their father faces depression and a sense of failure, illustrating the generational divide and the challenges of cultural assimilation. The film was filmed over eight years, including visits to Zaldívar's hometown of Holguín, and it reflects on the wider effects of the Cuban-American experience.

Why Watch

  • •See Zaldívar's personal story of leaving Cuba.
  • •Meet the Marielitos and their struggles in Miami.
  • •Find out how history shaped family dynamics.

Did You Know

•90 Miles won the Best Documentary award at the New York International Latino Film Festival in 2001.
•The film was filmed over eight years, with visits to Cuba in 1998 and 1999.
•Zaldívar's father struggled with depression after moving to the U.S., feeling a sense of failure.
•The film premiered on PBS in 2003 as part of the P.O.V. series.

Perfect For

Cuban-American historyDocumentary enthusiastsCultural identity studies