Los Gusanos

John Sayles
February 2005     ISBN: 156025646X

Set in Miami in 1981, Los Gusanos is the vivid and moving account of one extended family's life in Cuba and the United States. Sayles introduces us to a memorable range of characters--young, old, black and white--all of whom are struggling to make a new life in exile while haunted by the memories of Cuba. Taking as its title from the derogatory term Castro used to describe those who fled after he came to power, Los Gusanos is brilliantly structured, offering a wide panorama of time and place, of political events and personal emotion. Filled with passion, violence, sex and history, Los Gusanos is a rare combination of literary fiction and visceral storytelling.

"His course, as far as I can see, is to pull apart our most cherished myths and icons and see what they're really made of."

--Barbara Kingsolver

John Sayles is the writer and director of acclaimed independent films, including Return of the Secaucus Seven; Baby, It's You; The Brother from Another Planet; Matewan; and Passion Fish. His most recent film, Silver City, is a timely satire for the election year. Twice nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Sayles has also written novels.