“Sergio Giral is the best known of the Black Cuban directors and his previous films, The Other Francisco and Rancheador were historical observations of the period of slavery in Cuba, the gradual rise of rebellion against colonial traditions, and the ultimate freedom that resulted. Maluala is the most striking addition to this genre, and a prize-winner at the first festival of Latin American cinema held in Cuba earlier this year. The action takes place during the last century in the region of Maluala. Gallo, the black chieftain, together with his cohort, Coba, present a petition for land and liberty to the colonial government. Governor Escudero offers liberty if the rebellious villages will be dismantled and their men offer themselves in surrender. He promises that they will be freed shortly thereafter. Three chieftains agree, but Gallo and Coba refuse. It is at this point that Escudero decides to use trickery and force in order to destroy the Malualan community, to disrupt their hierarchy and gain total control. Giral has mounted Maluala with colorful ritual and the acting, particularly Samuel Claxton, as Gallo, is highly stylized in the heroic tradition. It is an absorbing adventure film wrought from historical events which appear exotic and violent, but Giral constantly implants into every image the necessity for unity among people in order to combat man's seemingly casual desire to subjugate mankind, in the struggle for power and undefined ambition.” --S.F. Film Festival, 1980