"Calibrating a 1979 Havana in its actual built environment, Alea and Tabío's film crimps the narrative mostly within four walls (Diego's crammed apartment, and the whole rundown building, college facilities and dormitories, a two-by-four room, etc.), via its Third-Cinema approach. A budding friendship takes its root in Diego and David's opening-up about their differences and similarities, STRAWBERRY & CHOCOLATE mercifully sits on the fence in terms of their ideological schism without omitting the pall of Castro regime, because regardless of their beliefs, it is the commonalities as Cubans, as fellow earthlings that bind them together, which surpass any sexual attractions and social prejudices, David is amazed and awed by Diego's erudition and honesty, whereas Diego's view on David alters from a sex conquest to a sincere friend."
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