A masterful tetraptych of a film. While you could call it a portmanteau, it’s really four visions of Cuban life in the days leading up to the revolution.
The cinematography is amazing. At times, it’s as though Ansel Adams turned his hand to film. Later, it’s Stanley Kubrick’s “Paths of Glory” or “Full Metal Jacket.”
The storytelling is a study in efficiency, supported by incredible performances.
Worth any effort to be able to view it.
★★★★★
Granted, yes, its use of ‘exploited women,’ ‘noble farmer,’ and ‘ideologue youth’ are quite bold in their propagandist roles, it’s still a worthwhile version of events, and far-removed from those images we see of the glamorous life in Havana as portrayed in ‘The Godfather’ (which were shot in the Dominican Republic) or in the musical ‘Guys & Dolls.’
This is surely a politically coloured motion picture, but one more cinema verité than Hollywood Film, and I’ll the the former every time.
However, I’ve just read this on IMDb:
“Both the Soviets and the Cubans were disappointed in the film. In Cuba, it is referred to as "I am NOT Cuba". They never felt it was a portrait of themselves - but, rather a depiction of Cuba imposed on them by the Soviet Union. Soviet Union wanted to make a straight-forward propaganda film. They felt the director Mikhail Kalatozov made an 'art' film instead.”
— https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058604/trivia?tab=tr&item=tr2687272
So… uh… there’s that, then.
Ich bin Kuba (1964) - Both the Soviets and the Cubans were disappointed in the film. In Cuba, it is referred to as "I am NOT Cuba". They never felt it was a portrait of themselves - but, rather a depiction of Cuba imposed on them by the Soviet Union. Soviet Union wanted to make a straight-forward propaganda film. They felt the director Mikhail Kalatozov made an 'art' film instead.
@IanAMartin HAS MOVED!