Rating: 
Summary: Realistic, Heartbreaking & Impactful!
Review: This film is a true photograph of the life of the lay people of Cuba. Those in denial truly have no familial connection to the Island. Cuba is not just what a tourist sees.
Rating: 
Summary: Azucar Amarga leaves a bitter taste.
Review: I tried hard to watch this movie with an open mind but the plot so insulted my intelligence that I was reaching for the fast forward button long before the end. Rather than filming an honest account of life inside Cuba, the director manipulates a number of half-truths to create a monstrous piece of propaganda. The MTV style camera work and editing are interesting, but the protagonists are basically Miami stereotypes transported into Havana. If two such vacuous, self-important people could be found outside of the US, Cuba would be the last place on earth where they would survive. Anyone who has been to Cuba and spent some time there will not recognize the laughingly superficial portrayal of Cuban life. I ended up with nothing but admiration for the Cuban government for even allowing such a politically motivated movie to be filmed there.
Rating:
Summary: Open your heart to the harsh realities of life in Cuba
Review: A true masterpiece by a great Director (as previously shown by his work in "Miami Vice"). This picture shows a love story of two young characters whose generation has been betrayed by the false promises and lies experienced by the society where they were born, educated and raised. A Romeo and Juliette story under the hard realities of communists betrayal at its best.
Rating: 
Summary: Fenomenal y realistico.
Review: Esta es en realidad una de la mejores películas que he visto en un largo tiempo. Sin efectos especialles y sin la gran producción de una obra de Hollywood, pero muy impactante. A él que no le toque el corazón está hecho de piedra. Aunque solamente le doy 4 estrellas por faltas en el lado técnico, come el audio, sin embargo se merece el máximo número de estrellas (5).
Rating:
Summary: Muy Bueno!!!
Review: Powerful movie, whether you know anything about Cuba or not. This movie does a nice job of conveying Cuba as it is today. I have a cousin who came from Cuba a couple of years ago (by US Embassy lottery) and he and his wife describe similar images and frustrations. I LOVED this video and am thrilled that so much good cinema is coming out of my home country! See it...
Rating:
Summary: Sour Propoganda
Review: Bitter Sugar is the right name for this vidieo that purports to be one thing but is in fact the opposite. I ordered it from Amazon. com (no fault of theirs) thinking I'd see modern Cuba from the inside from the perspective of youth. Well I wondered why it was so polished, so sexy and really so soap opera like in it's sentiments. It was delightful seeing the erotic scenes but then I studied the vidio box carefully to try to see why the message was up-side-down. The prostitution, gambling, grand hotels subjugated peoples lives when only a few owned so much. The movie argues the opposite it squarley blames Castro. Well it's fine for the maker of Miami Vice to put this together but I felt really violated and cheated to learn he'd put this slick steamy vidieo together and is posing (for the viewer) as an insider showing us the hidden truths. Don't be fooled.
Rating:
Summary: ¡Excelente!
Review: This is a powerful and stunning film, both visually and emotionally. It should be required viewing for all those who are "idealistic" enough to hold on to romantic visions of the corrupted Cuban Revolution. Watch this movie to see how the real people of Cuba suffer to survive amid the ruins of a failed economic and political system.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding film. Leon Ichaso shows you the real Cuba.
Review: This is an excellent film that goes right to the core of the economic and political situation in Cuba. It clearly shows that Cuba's economic woes are not due to the embargo, but rather to a repressive regime that prohibits its citizens from pursuing personal wealth. Miguel Gutierrez gives a masterful performance as Dr. Tomas Valdez, father of Gustavo. Dr. Valdez, a psychiatrist, gets a second job as a piano player at a tourist resort. In a single weekend, Dr. Valdez earns more from tourist tips than in an entire week at his regular job. When confronted by his son on the "revolutionary morality" of doing such a menial task, Dr. Valdez responds; "Because you can't eat communist slogans." This is a very real example of the "inverted pyramid" created by the absurd economic system of Cuba. The inequalities created by the revolution are also evident. Gustavo tries to reach Yolanda, who is having dinner with an Italian tourist at a hotel, and is thrown out by a security guard. When Gustavo complains, the guard tells him that tourists are more important because they bring hard currency. A masterfully directed, extremely well acted film. Don't miss it, especially if you have Cuban roots.
Rating: 
Summary: dissapointed
Review: All I felt was dissapointment after watching this film. There were some interesting aspects and the portrayal of Cuban life helps any American think more closely about the embargo, however I can't help but feel that the film spread itself too thin. The issues and ideas were presented artlessly and it was not a pleasure to watch. Perhaps it was too much for this director to tackle in one film.
Rating:
Summary: a poignant story of political betrayal
Review: As a Cuban-American, I found this film to be very relevant and particularly timely. As a film, it was masterfully wrought; the protagonist's loves (for his country, family, and young dancer) were beautifully interwoven from their origins to their eventual demise. Cubano, ¡no te lo pierdas!
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