HBO’s new documentary, Night is Not Eternal, sets out to examine the fight for freedom under authoritarian regimes, focusing on Cuban activist Rosa María Payá’s efforts to bring democratic change to Cuba. Directed by Nanfu Wang (In the Same Breath, Mind Over Murder), the film connects Cuba’s struggle with those in China and, surprisingly, the United States, highlighting the seemingly universal tension between individual liberties and state control.
Payá, daughter of the late Oswaldo Payá, a five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, becomes the lens through which Wang examines the fight for freedom in Cuba. Night is Not EternalL captures the energy and scale of the largest protests in Cuba since the 1959 revolution, linking these events to historical uprisings like Tiananmen Square. The film doesn’t shy away from difficult comparisons, prompting reflection on the erosion of democratic norms even in nations often considered beacons of freedom.
Wang weaves her own experiences growing up in China and her observations of the changing political landscape in the U.S. into Payá’s narrative. This approach attempts to create a broader conversation about the fight for freedom as a global phenomenon, not confined to any single nation or political system. Featuring interviews with Payá, artist Lia Villares, Ofelia Acevedo, and imprisoned activist Sayli Navarro Alvarez, Night is Not Eternal offers a varied look at the human cost of authoritarianism.
Night is Not Eternal premieres Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
