The character of Diego mirrors the life of a non-conformist, homosexual in a revolutionary Cuba, whereas David embodies a revolutionist, a new man, who supports Fidel Castro and represents the Revolutionary Cuba in every way possible. As David is a younger man he has grown up with the ‘new Cuba’ and seems to only be capable of thinking in one way, the doctrine of the Revolution. After the elimination of the Catholic Church life deemed much harder for homosexuals in Cuba. Here we see a major difference between the intellectual homosexual, Diego and the new man. They might have a very similar love for their country but, they have two completely different political views on how it’s possible to achieve the best version of Cuba.
Diego is first introduced near ‘Coppelia’ with his sexual partner and artistic protégé Germán. Coppelia was known as an area in which homosexuals met and socialized. Diego is a working art critic and a photographer, planning an exhibition with Germán. Diego joins David at ‘Coppelia’ and is eating strawberry ice-cream, a big indication of his homosexuality which David noticed immediately. The ice-cream is used as a metaphor through the film. Diego chooses to eat strawberry instead of chocolate ice-cream like David who is a straight man as Diego is a happy, openly gay man who does not wish to hide it, this is how he can express himself and feel free, whereas David’s freedom is regulated by the government.
Diego has noticed David previously, but this time decided to approach him. For the duration of their conversation, Diego attempts to seduce David with lines such as “it’s my lucky day” and “I’m finding wonderful things” when he found a strawberry in his ice-cream whilst looking very intensely at David who was incredibly uncomfortable. This is observed again when David goes to Diego’s apartment in search of his photographs. During their time in the apartment David never allows himself to relax no matter how hard Diego is trying. Diego has referred to him as “baby”, “honey” and “sweetie” all within a matter of moments which David was less than pleased with.
When they entered the apartment, they were greeted by religious sculptures which were part of the exhibit both Diego and Germán were trying to organize. When David heard that Diego has an embassy that is interested in the exhibition it is then that he becomes suspicious. Miguel, David’s flat mate convinces him to go back and spy on Diego. It is then when both David and Miguel’s homophobia becomes apparent and they are focusing on the idea that Diego may be a counter-revolutionary. It is clear that the main issue is not that Diego is a gay man but that he is counter-revolutionary. This is where the differences come into play with the characters. If Diego was a revolutionist yet still homosexual, he would not have been chastised.
Diego is portrayed as the enemy of bureaucratic socialism which he believes lacks the ability to appreciate good art. When Diego hears that Germán was ‘bribed’ with a ticket to Mexico he decides to write a letter to the authorities. This letter lost Diego his job and he was being forced to leave Cuba. As Germán was also a gay man in Cuba it was obvious that sexuality was not the cause of Diego losing his job, it was because he challenged the bureaucracy. Germán was more submissive than Diego and it has been made very clear that Diego does not agree with the Revolution and this was his way to ensure the state could not use art as a propaganda tool.
Chocolate y Fresa suggests the idea that Diego is the more revolutionary of the two men and that David has a two-dimensional mind. Diego is more willing to break with conformity, so that he can live his life with true-freedom whether it be sexually, politically or intellectually. In the eyes of the Revolution, non-intellectuals are more caught up with the paltry pleasures of both sex and art whereas the intellectual aims to be above such thoughts and centralizes their focus on what is best for the Revolutionary world. Diego’s character is a more open-minded, risk taker in comparison to David. The film, however seems to imply this constant need of paltry pleasures with higher pleasures of learning. This is portrayed by the continual growth of David and Diego’s friendship and how they begin to understand each other’s political views. The film suggests the necessity of balance between the free-thinker that is Diego and the communist David, both within the world of the Revolution with the aim of Cuba’s success but it makes it seem as though they would never succeed.
David, the hetero-normative male, is a scholar student of the Revolution; whereas Diego has basically been exiled for his open homosexuality. As they spend more time together David starts to realize that Diego is much more intellectual and revolutionary than he ever thought was possible. David studies political science instead of his true passion which is literature because that is what is viewed more politically correct and will help with his contribution to the Revolution. Diego, as previously mentioned was a free-thinker who followed his passion and studied classical music, he was a scholar in European literature and poetry. Diego could not understand why David was not following his passion if that was what made him happy in life. “Why study political science if you like literature?” “I think one should study what society needs most”. In contrast to this, while Diego may not be able to understand why David will not follow his passion, David does not understand why Diego is ‘allowing’ himself to be a homosexual. David believes that Diego’s parents are to blame for this ‘illness’ and that it has come from his glands. Here we see two minds, a mind of a communist born and raised in a Revolution and a non-conformist homosexual stuck in a Revolution.
Diego openly celebrates who he views as the Cuban cultural greats who, in the Revolution have been rejected. One of the most mentioned being José Lezama Lima. Diego celebrated him behind closed doors with music playing so that he can speak freely about his political views and the dire state of his country. Diego, as explained, was a risk-taker and rather than resisting the freedom gained in the Revolution, he decided to embody his own freedom and use it in ways to express himself and to learn in whatever way was possible. He is truly free in that he speaks what’s on his mind for the good of the Cuban society and not society as solely dictated by the Revolution. Diego believes in a Cuba, not the Cuba that advance the ideas of the Revolution but that celebrates all of its history.
There is a scene in which David tries to place photo of Che Guevara on Deigo’s wall beside who Diego thought were the artistic greats that contribute to Cuban identity. This portrait strikes a conflicting image among the great artists such as Lezama Lima who were there to portray the image of the pre-Revolutionary Cuba. David limited his learning to the more Revolutionary style of learning and could not understand why Diego was not pleased about this addition to his wall. In Diego’s apartment he is free to create his own view of what is truly Cuban and free. In the film it seems as though the ability for Diego to be a free spirit should be hidden and is not accepted under the banner of the Revolution.
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In contrast with David and Diego’s differences in political views, they share a strong equal love for Cuba. David will always believe that communism is best for Cuba to thrive as a country whereas Diego has a different opinion. Even though they do not agree on how it is best achieved, they do share the same aim and that is for Cuba to succeed. Towards the end, as they spend more and more time together David’s begins to accept Diego’s way of thinking and understands that he too is allowed his own point of view on certain topics, in saying that, David may not completely agree with Diego as he has grown up in the Revolution and everything it stands for, but he is more accepting.
Fresa y Chocolate represents the similarities and differences in both the intellectual homosexual and the new man throughout the Cuban Revolution. It provides viewers with an insight into two completely different lives and how they have come together to share their opinions and to help one another understand that there is not just one stream of thought. David and Diego’s friendship ends with two open-minded men living their lives in how they saw fit. In the end scene viewers see David and Diego embrace in a hug, this is a huge moment in their relationship as previously, David found it hard to be in Diego’s company. Diego is ready to leave Cuba and live his life with the freedom he deserves, and David will stay in Cuba where Diego helped him open his mind up and find his freedom that is not strictly under the rules of the Revolution.