"From Havana's Malecon to small-town back yards, it follows mechanics, street vendors and a teacher-turned-inventor who live by one rule: invent and resolve. A pristine US Plymouth Fury convertible of the 1950s hides a Soviet engine, Japanese gearbox and handmade parts; washing machines become coconut graters, solar dryers and tools for urban farms."
"Cuban historians and designer Ernesto Oroza reveal the philosophy behind this technical disobedience, treating every object as raw material to hack and extend. Far from nostalgia, the film offers a stark snapshot of a future in which resources are scarce and the power to repair may be our most important tool."
Following the Soviet Union's 1991 collapse, Cuba faced severe shortages of fuel, food, and spare parts. Rather than surrender, Cubans developed an innovative repair culture rooted in necessity and creativity. Mechanics, street vendors, and inventors transformed everyday objects into functional tools through radical repurposing. A 1950s Plymouth Fury combines Soviet, Japanese, and handmade components; washing machines become agricultural equipment. This philosophy of technical disobedience treats all objects as raw material for modification and extension. Cuban historians and designer Ernesto Oroza examine the cultural and practical dimensions of this approach, revealing how repair became both survival strategy and philosophical stance. The documentary presents this adaptation not as nostalgic reflection but as a prescient model for resource-constrained futures.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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