Poetry Guides Filmmaking: an Interview with Cristobal Krusen

By Erin Cody, Green Bench Monthly

Cristobal Krusen is an incredibly interesting fellow. The Tampa born, internationally-recognized writer/director’s 2001 film Final Solution was shown last month at the Sundial. I was lucky enough to chat with Mr. Krusen before he came here for the showing. Following are a few snippets from my forty-minute conversation with the filmmaker.

Final Solution is showing at the Sundial. Why here? Why now?

Twenty-five years ago, apartheid in South Africa came to an official end. Nelson Mandela was elected in the first-ever democratic election in South Africa, ushering in a new era. We are showing it to commemorate the anniversary of the end of apartheid, and Tampa Bay was chosen because I was born and raised in Tampa. It’s kind of a homecoming and to share my work with my hometown.

The film has a spirit about it that is very positive and inspiring – at times even brave. It’s a moving story that will still grab an audience, and has now been remastered in hi-def, which has given the film a whole new life. We also enhanced the audio, made some new edits to improve the flow of the film, and shot a new ending. Final Solution is based on a true story involving real people. The new ending of the film that tells the audience where those people are today.

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