Watch The Lost Son of Havana

The Lost Son of Havana is a 2009 documentary narrated by actor Bobby Cannavale. The film follows the journey of Major League Baseball star Luis Tiant, who returns to Cuba after being away for almost 50 years in search of a reconciliation with his homeland. Directed by Jonathan Hock, the documentary captures Tiant's emotional reunion with his family and former teammates in Cuba, as well as his efforts to spread goodwill and inspire young players on the island.

The film starts by giving a brief background of Tiant's incredible career in the Major Leagues. Tiant, a talented pitcher, played for several teams including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and the Cleveland Indians. The former all-star pitcher had a career record of 229 wins and 172 losses with a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.30. In addition to his impressive stats on the field, Tiant is also known for his distinctive windup and delivery, which is imitated by many young pitchers to this day.

Despite his success in the United States, Tiant remained emotionally connected to his homeland. Born into a baseball family, Tiant's father played baseball in the Negro Leagues and his son would eventually follow him to the big league. Tiant grew up playing baseball in Havana, but his dreams of playing in the big leagues in the US were almost dashed when Fidel Castro took power and the US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba. As Tiant became a star pitcher in the US, Cuba became a closed-off communist country, and Tiant was unable to reconcile with his family or visit his home country.

After being apart for six decades, Tiant finally has the chance to return to Cuba with the help of his friend and baseball journalist, Peter Gammons. The film documents Tiant's emotional reunion with his family, former teammates, and the Cuban people. It also shows how Tiant's return resonates with a younger generation of players who see him as an inspiration and a symbol of hope.

Throughout the documentary, Tiant speaks candidly about the difficulties of adjusting to life in the US and the challenges he faced as an immigrant. He also talks openly about the emotional scars of leaving his home country and the difficulties he faced in trying to get back. His journey back to Cuba is not only a personal one but also a symbolic one as he tries to reconcile the painful past with the present.

The film also provides a glimpse of the complex relationship between the US and Cuban governments. While Tiant's visit is seen as a sign of progress towards normalizing relations between the two countries, there are still significant barriers to be overcome. Tiant's efforts to reach out to the Cuban government and promote baseball as a way of bringing people together are heartfelt, but they also highlight the obstacles to improving relations between the two countries.

The Lost Son of Havana is a moving and thought-provoking documentary that combines Tiant's personal story with a broader examination of the political and social issues that have divided Cuba and the United States. The film provides a unique perspective on the power of sports to bring people together, even in the face of deep-seated political and ideological differences. It is an inspiring story of resilience, hope, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

The Lost Son of Havana is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.