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Deep Dive: Maestra (2012)

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Maestra
Maestra is a documentary directed by Catherine Murphy that focuses on the youngest women teachers involved in the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign. The campaign aimed to eliminate illiteracy in Cuba within a year, mobilizing 250,000 volunteers, of which 100,000 were under 18 and over half were women. The film features interviews with nine of these women, including notable figures like Norma Guillard and Diana Balboa, who were both 15 years old during the campaign. The film captures the personal stories of these women as they reflect on their experiences and the impact of the campaign on their lives and communities. Narrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, the documentary includes Spanish-language interviews with English subtitles, providing a rich context for understanding the significance of the Literacy Campaign in Cuba's history and its lasting effects on the participants.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Norma Guillard, a pioneer of feminism in Cuba.
  • •Follow Diana Balboa, an advocate for LGBT rights.
  • •See the impact of the 1961 Cuban Literacy Campaign.

Did You Know

•In 1961, Cuba sent 250,000 volunteers to teach literacy.
•Over half of the 100,000 volunteers under 18 were women.
•Catherine Murphy began recording interviews in 2004 with women in their 60s.
•Maestra premiered in the U.S. in April 2011 with screenings in San Francisco.
•The film has won the Director's Choice Award at the Black Maria Film Festival.

Perfect For

Cuban history enthusiastsFeminism in Latin AmericaLGBT rights advocates