• Director(s):

    HEURTEL (MANON), GOHARI (Alex)

  • Producer(s):

    ARTE GEIE, BABEL PRESS

  • Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2017

  • Language(s):

    German, French

  • Rights:

    TV, DVD, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET, VOD

They are called the “balseros”. Prepared to do anything to leave Cuba, they take to the sea on makeshift rafts in a bid to reach the coast of America. 

Now, two years after the rapprochement between Washington and Havana, the balseros are faced with the repeal of the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy, which for the past 20 years has meant anyone who sets foot on US soil can request residency. But it also meant that those who were intercepted by US coastguards whilst still at sea were returned to Cuba, and in 2016, some 5,500 would-be immigrants were sent back.
A few days before the end of his second term, Barack Obama announced the termination of this policy with immediate effect, in response to a request from the Cuban authorities which saw it as inciting citizens to seek exile. Henceforth, Cubans who illegally try to enter the United States are expelled.
With Donald Trump now in office, the dream of the balseros has turned into an impossible crossing…