Cuba: Beyond the Pearl of the Antilles

This compelling documentary chronicles the lives of Cuban Jews who left Cuba in 1960, after having resided there since the early 1900s. The film deals with the political impact that the Castro regime had on these people, their lives and their culture. It also profiles the community still living there – looking at their fight to maintain closeness to their Jewish roots and practice their Judaism, as well as tracing how they arrived in Cuba. A fascinating and fresh portrait of a little known group in a country fraught with political turmoil.

Directed by Joycelyn Bejar, Cuba: Beyond the Pearl of the Antilles leans on a strong ensemble — David Anthony Pizzuto — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2005.