Berlin Film Review: ‘Cuban Food Stories’

A road trip around Cuba and the stories behind the distinctive (and sometimes disappearing) tastes of regional cuisines.

Made with an archivist’s heart and a gourmand’s soul, mouth-watering, personal documentary “Cuban Food Stories” chronicles director Asori Soto’s road trip around the island of his birth, searching for the flavors of his youth and the stories behind the distinctive (and sometimes disappearing) tastes of regional cuisines. Soto, a longtime U.S. resident, captures his native country at a time of transition and smartly probes the relationship between culinary traditions and cultural heritage. The result is a natural for both big- and small-screen play, and sure to be served up around the world on a variety of platforms.

Eye-opening in every way, especially for those who may think that Cuban food is just rice and beans, the film makes extensive use of Soto’s engaging voiceover narration. He provides fascinating historical and sociological context throughout, and contrasts Cuba’s current culinary achievements with the hardships that the island suffered after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when shortages led many Cubans to lose their passion for cooking.