There are lots of things we think of when we think of the TriBeCa Film Festival but until now defecting wasn't one of them. But we aren't Cuban actors Analin de la Rua and Javier Nunez, cast members of Una Noche, which premiered at the festival last week. After going missing en route to the festival, the pair emerged in Miami on Friday to reveal that they are seeking political asylum in the States. The actors' journey to the States, at least, has not been nearly as harrowing as the one by raft they depict in the film.
The two actors, both 20, say their decision to leave the communist country came after the film, which they made three years ago and in which they take a raft to Miami, became an international success. Nothing like seeing how the rest of the world lives to open your eyes:
They spent six days in Germany in February, their first overseas trip, but returned to Cuba and only began to think of leaving the island permanently when they got news of the invitation to New York.
"In part it's hard to leave your family and friends behind," said de la Rua, who has two sisters and divorced parents in Havana. "But at the same time you do it so you can help them. There's no future in Cuba."
Last week Una Noche picked up TFF awards for best cinematography, best new narrative director, and best actor. The last award went to both Nunez and co-star Dariel Arrechada. Arrechada, however, does not intend to seek asylum and plans to return to Cuba. "I'm sad for them because they are my friends," Arrechada told Reuters in broken English and Spanish after accepting his award.
