On February 14, as Cuba grapples with one of its most severe fuel shortages in years, Sandro Castro marked Valentine's Day with a performance blending satire, provocation, and political symbolism.
Fidel Castro's grandson—linked to the failed "energy revolution"—shared a video featuring himself alone in a bar, dismissing several women who approach him, until he ultimately discovers his "true love": a gasoline canister.
“Just another day here in Apagonia, with a massive thirst,” he begins, delivering an internal monologue. The scene depicts him as uncomfortable, dismissive, and uninterested in the women around him. “I'm not for you,” he tells one. The character seems to be searching for something different, something rare, almost impossible to find in today's Cuba.
The twist arrives when he encounters his new "partner": a gasoline container adorned with eyes and a scarf to humanize it. “Oh, what a beauty... I fell for you from the first time I saw you,” he dramatically declares. He offers it a Cristal beer, takes it home for dinner, and ends up in bed embracing the canister, with a Mexican flag hanging on the wall.
This reference is likely intentional. Mexico has become a major oil supplier to the Cuban regime amidst the energy collapse. The image of the Castro heir smitten with a gasoline canister, against a backdrop of the Mexican flag, serves as a visual metaphor for the country's current dependency.
The video extends beyond absurd romance. In the bar where the story unfolds, a wall bears the phrase: “Words Create Lies. Pain Can Be Trusted,” a quote linked to the Japanese film Audition.
Amidst a crisis marked by blackouts, shortages, and endless queues at service stations, the choice of message assumes an inevitable political tone. In a nation overwhelmed by official slogans, the tangible reality—daily pain—prevails over rhetoric.
Yet, the message might also be seen as backing the painful oil embargo imposed by the Trump administration on the Castro regime, representing yet another mockery of Miguel Díaz-Canel's "continuity" government by the dictator's grandson.
Today, gasoline, nearly unattainable for most Cubans, transforms into an object of romantic desire. Sandro casts it as a lost treasure and ultimate passion: “There isn't a moment I can be without you... I hope you never leave again.”
This sentiment encapsulates the national crisis: the erratic supply that halts transportation, inflates prices, and exacerbates social unrest.
The performance swings between parody and mockery. While Cubans endure hours in queues under the sun or face disrupted basic services, the regime’s "loose cannon" turns scarcity into a romantic spectacle.
Whether interpreted as veiled criticism or mere narcissistic display, the dark humor uncovers an uncomfortable truth: in today's Cuba, gasoline is more precious than love.
Amidst blackouts and official promises of stability, Sandro Castro found his most revealing Valentine's Day: a canister that symbolizes, more effectively than any speech, the nation's fragile energy situation.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis Through Satire
What is the significance of Sandro Castro's video?
Sandro Castro's video uses satire to highlight Cuba's severe fuel shortage and symbolizes the country's dependency on foreign oil, particularly from Mexico.
Why does the video include a Mexican flag?
The Mexican flag symbolizes Mexico's role as a major oil supplier to Cuba, reflecting the country's reliance on foreign energy sources during its energy crisis.
How does the video reflect the current situation in Cuba?
The video humorously yet critically portrays the scarcity of fuel in Cuba, suggesting that gasoline has become more valuable than love, underscoring the country's dire energy situation.