Nicolás Guillén Landrián
Encyclopedia
Nicolás Guillén Landrián (1938 in Camagüey, Cuba - July 23, 2003 in Miami, Florida) was a Cuba
n experimental filmmaker and painter.
Guillén was an accomplished filmmaker. He made a total of 13 documentaries, although they were heavily censored and prevented from being part of the Cuban Film Industry. In 1964, he was given a special award at the Cracow Film Festival for his film En un barrio viejo. In 1968, his documentary Coffea Arabiga featured the Beatles' song Fool on the Hill
as Fidel Castro
appeared on screen. That same year, Guillén was accused of plotting to assassinate Castro. The Cuban government interrogated him for six months in Villa Marista. From 1970 to 1989, he was repeatedly jailed and institutionalized. He received at least eight treatments of electroconvulsive therapy
, never under sedation.
As painter he taught René Portocarrero
and Victor Miquel Moreno Piñeiro
in painting.
In 1989, he was able to flee Cuba and lived the rest of his life in Miami, Florida
. He died of cancer at Mercy Hospital in Miami. After his death, his widow had his body flown from Miami and entombed in Colon Cemetery, Havana
in Cuba. His uncle was Afro-Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén
.Filmmakers: Victor R. Jiménez Sosa, and Jorge Egusquiza produced a biographical documentary of Nicolás Guillén Landrián in his own words, "Nicolás: the end but not the end", by Coincident Productions (2005).
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n experimental filmmaker and painter.
Guillén was an accomplished filmmaker. He made a total of 13 documentaries, although they were heavily censored and prevented from being part of the Cuban Film Industry. In 1964, he was given a special award at the Cracow Film Festival for his film En un barrio viejo. In 1968, his documentary Coffea Arabiga featured the Beatles' song Fool on the Hill
The Fool on the Hill
"The Fool on the Hill" is a song by The Beatles. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and recorded in 1967...
as Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
appeared on screen. That same year, Guillén was accused of plotting to assassinate Castro. The Cuban government interrogated him for six months in Villa Marista. From 1970 to 1989, he was repeatedly jailed and institutionalized. He received at least eight treatments of electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy , formerly known as electroshock, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. Its mode of action is unknown...
, never under sedation.
As painter he taught René Portocarrero
René Portocarrero
René Portocarrero was a Cuban artist recognised internationally for his achievements.-History:...
and Victor Miquel Moreno Piñeiro
Victor Miquel Moreno Piñeiro
Víctor Miquel Moreno Piñeiro, known as Victor Moreno, is a Cuban painter.He was born on 17 June 1951 in Placetas, Villa Clara, Cuba.Victor Moreno started with the age of five to paint. Later on José Enriquez, cousin of Carlos Enríquez taught the young Victor how to mix colors...
in painting.
In 1989, he was able to flee Cuba and lived the rest of his life in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. He died of cancer at Mercy Hospital in Miami. After his death, his widow had his body flown from Miami and entombed in Colon Cemetery, Havana
Colon Cemetery, Havana
The Colon Cemetery or more fully in the Spanish language Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba on top of Espada Cemetery. Named for Christopher Columbus, the 140 acre cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials...
in Cuba. His uncle was Afro-Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista was a Cuban poet, journalist, political activist, and writer. He is best remembered as the national poet of Cuba.Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba...
.Filmmakers: Victor R. Jiménez Sosa, and Jorge Egusquiza produced a biographical documentary of Nicolás Guillén Landrián in his own words, "Nicolás: the end but not the end", by Coincident Productions (2005).
External links
- http://www.sigloxxi.org/nicolasito.htm
- http://www.lanuevacuba.com/archivo/nicolasito-1esp.htm
- http://arch1.cubaencuentro.com/cultura/noticias/20030723/ad84bc6ee9c7a861c4a0853a2aedd6c6.html
- http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y03/jul03/30o1.htm
- http://www.espaciosdigital.com/articulos/verarticulo.asp?ID=18
- http://canaldocumental.blogspot.com/2008/01/nicols-guilln-landrin.html
- http://www.anewgen2.com/victor.html (Victor R. Jiménez Sosa, Director: Nicolás: the end but not the end)