This is a timely documentary for the Edinburgh Film Festival given the state of Fidel Castro's health and the uncertainty of Cuba's future. I had recently returned from a visit to Cuba, and so I was looking forward to seeing a side of Cuban culture not necessarily visible to the foreign visitor.

East of Havana follows the fate of a hip hop festival and focuses on the three members of hip hop posse El Cartel. The movie format is similar to The Buena Vista Social Club, with interviews with the main characters in their home environment. However instead of two Americans (Ry Cooder and son) visiting Cuba to unearth the gems from Havana music scene, this documentary is directed by two women whose parents are Cuban exiles.

Instead of the documentary ending with a successful concert, the hip hop festival ends up cancelled.

The documentary provides a good insight into how the younger generation, not old enough to remember the Revolution, view Cuba today. As far as Soandry, Mikki Flow and Magyori Martinez, the members of El Cartel, are concerned, they exist in abject poverty whilst living only 90 miles from the wealth and opportunity of the USA. The past is irrelevant to them - they live in the present and feel that Cuba needs to move with the times. They want the opportunity to make something of themselves, to travel (it is illegal for any Cuban to leave Cuba) and to express their opinions openly without fear of recrimination. Their rapping reflects this discontent and it becomes apparent that it is not looked upon too kindly by the powers that be.

Whilst not a fan of rap, I found something poetic in listening to the sounds of Spanish rapping whilst reading the English subtitles. In Spanish, their lyrics have rhythm and metre, in English the lyrics translate to living in harmony, equal opportunities for all and encouraging others to do the same. Hardly the stuff of gangstas, guns and ho's. In fact their rapping on 'ho's' (or mulattos in Cuban) is that such a trade need not exist and women should have equal rights.

There is a distinct parallel with El Cartel and N.W.A. Think of how revolutionary "F**k tha Police" by Niggers With Attitude was in the late 80s and you have an idea of the power of Cuban rap. Unfortunately for El Cartel their one annual opportunity to be heard on an international level is taken away from them when their hip hop festival is cancelled through a beauracratic decision.

Despite these set backs, all three members of El Cartel show a distinct optimism for the future and a desire to make their voices heard. The fact it's produced by Hollywood star Charlize Theron should see both this documentary and El Cartel gathering the attention they deserve...

With colourful footage on everyday Cuban life, articulate main characters and a worthwhile message, this is an interesting peek under the covers of one of the world's most intriguing nations.