Emilia is a personal journey and search for ancestral roots to unravel the story of Emilia Teurbe Tolón, who sewed Cuba's national flag while living in exile in New York in 1850.
EMILIA recounts a little known and very significant episode in Cuban American history, the creation of Cuba's national symbols in New York during the first independence struggles against Spain; and the meaning of the flag as a symbol for all Cubans. EMILIA was the first woman deported from Cuba for political insurgency and the woman who sewed the first Cuban national flag in 1850 in New York. When EMILIA TEURBE TOLÓN's tomb was found in Madrid in 2010 and her remains repatriated to Cuba for a State funeral, I undertook a journey to trace the life of EMILIA. During the trip from Miami to Cuba, Spain, France and New York in search for ancestral roots, I find milestones about the history of Cuba and of my ancestor. Descendant of a family of Moguer (Huelva, Spain) of French origin, Emilia was a 19th century Criolla woman ahead of her time and a role model for Cuban women; a courageous pioneer in the struggle for independence, and for her contribution to education and to social justice, EMILIA bequeathed her estate for the education of poor children in Cuba.Emilia's husband was the nationalist poet and political activist Miguel Teurbe Tolón, a pioneer of Spanish-language journalism in the United States and a Freemason who designed the flag and coat of arms in New York in 1850. Initially, a supporter of Narciso López and his controversial filibustering expeditions to annex the island to the U.S. and free Cuba from Spain, Miguel and fellow exiles evolved towards full independence. Emilia and Miguel's commitment to free Cuba gave rise to the birth of the Cuban nation.EMILIA is an experimental documentary narrated in the first person. Although anchored in history, the film takes place in the present as I investigate official records to reconstruct Emilia's life. Excerpts from 19th century publications, letters, and poetry lend authenticity to the personal quest. During the journey I discover forgotten family lore and join Emilia's descendants in Cuba and Miami as we struggle to understand our ancestors' roles in Cuba-U.S. history, and our own family history of immigration, exile, family separation and reunification. The documentary incorporates alternative digital formats, from professional HD to images captured on home video and mobile phones. EMILIA is an independent production funded by donations from family and friends, and professional colleagues who donated their services.
