Friday Kanopy Movie Pick: Havana Motor Club

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This documentary features Havana's vibrant community of underground drag racers and their quest to hold Cuba's first official car race since the end of the revolution in 1959. Racers enlist the help of Cuban-Americans for modern car parts or use motors found in unusual places, while some rely on ingenuity rather than resources. Through the eyes of these racers, Havana Motor Club explores how Cuba is changing today, and what its future holds in terms of relations with the U.S.


Cuba & Classic Cars

Cuba's rich culture includes a love of classic cars, many of which are used for tourism. These cars are also family heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation.

American cars were imported into Cuba around the early twentieth century. After the Cuban Revolution, car racing was banned and considered an elitist sport. With the implementation of a U.S. trade embargo around the same time, Cuba stopped receiving American cars.

Cuba’s reputation as a living museum for classic cars draws many tourists. With the U.S. trade embargo still in place, it’s Cuban ingenuity that has kept these classic American cars running, which is truly impressive.



How to use Kanopy

Kanopy is a streaming service that is free to use with your WPL card. Your account has 4 watch credits per month. If you do not use your credits, they do not roll over to the next month. You will see a "play credit tracker" at the top right of your library's Kanopy platform to alert you of how many play credits you have remaining for the month.

To use a play credit, you must press play on a video and have the video play for at least 5 seconds. Once a play credit is logged, you will have a full 3 days (72 hours) to watch the video as many times as you would like without using another play credit, even if a new month starts and your credits reset. Your Viewing History will show any video that is still available to view in your 3 day window. After the 3 day window has expired, another play credit will be used if you press play on the video again.

Kanopy is currently offering credit-free viewing for select films. If you watch any of the movies on this list, you will not be using your credits. Click here for credit-free films.


Looking for a way to interact with your community from home? Try our new film club!

Join fellow movie buffs as we discuss a diverse selection of critically-acclaimed films. All films are available on Kanopy.

Meetings are held through Zoom from 12-1 pm. Adults ages 18 & up welcome.

Register here