I Am Cuba (1964)
"Soy Cuba" (original title)

This study of Cuba--partially written by renowned poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko--captures the island just before it made the transition to a post-revolutionary society. Moving from city to ... See full summary »

Director:

Mikhail Kalatozov

Writers:

Enrique Pineda Barnet, Yevgeni Yevtushenko (Cuban version)

Stars:

Sergio Corrieri, Salvador Wood, José Gallardo

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sergio Corrieri	...	Alberto
Salvador Wood
José Gallardo	...	Pedro
Raúl García	...	Enrique
Luz María Collazo	...	Maria / Betty
Jean Bouise	...	Jim (in Cuban version) (as Jean Bouisse)
Alberto Morgan
Celia Rodriguez	...	Gloria (in Cuban version) (as Zilia Rodríguez)
Fausto Mirabal
Roberto García York	...	American activist
María de las Mercedes Díez
Bárbara Domínguez
Jesús del Monte	...	(as Isis del Monte)
Luisa María Jiménez	...	Teresa
Mario González Broche	...	Pablo (in Cuban version) (as Mario González)

Storyline

This study of Cuba--partially written by renowned poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko--captures the island just before it made the transition to a post-revolutionary society. Moving from city to country and back again, I AM CUBA examines the various problems caused by political oppression as well as by great discrepancies in wealth and power. Beginning in Havana in the pre-Castro era, we see how foreigners contributed to the city's prostitution and poverty; this sequence features dreamy, hallucinogenic camera work that creates a feeling of unease and dislocation. Then, in glorious images of palm tress and fertile land, the film looks at the sugar cane fields in the countryside, and the difficulties faced by peasants working the land. Finally, back in the city again, leftist students battle the police and a corrupt government--and pay a high price for their rebellion.

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Plot Keywords:

peasant | land | police | student | cuba | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Mr Bongo Films

Country:

Cuba Soviet Union

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Am Cuba

Filming Locations:

Cuba

Box Office

Gross:

$160,697 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC), Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film got one prize in technical competition in Milan in 1964, during the 6th UNIATEK congress.

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Quotes

Pedro: I used to think the most terrifying thing in life is death. Now I know the most terrifying thing in life is life.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Episode #1.8 (2011)

User Reviews

Four beautiful stories and breathtaking cinematography.

The four segments that give us an impression of Cuba around 1960 are all very fine. I' wouldn't call this any more propagandistic than any Michael Bay Movie, far less even. It really captures the soul of Cuba that was exploited by the USA at the time and took matters back in their own hand.

I've been to Cuba last year and if the USA didn't boycott the country the Latin communism could work. But back to the movie. The cinematography is as it has been said so many times one of the best efforts ever, but it is not the only quality because the four stories are very nice and have influenced Hollywood filmmakers more than any American will like to admit.