I am Cuba – A Soviet Made Masterpiece

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I Am Cuba Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Soviet-made Cuban films don’t do half measures, they go all in. I am Cuba is no exception. The cinematography is more stylish than most films you’ll ever see and some of the shots are truly unforgettable. Add in Cuban history from the 1920s to the 1950s and you’ve got one truly epic film.

From: Cuba, North America
Watch: Trailer, Watch on Amazon
Next: Lucia, Battle of Algiers, Battleship Potemkin

Why Watch I Am Cuba?

  • For the cinematograph
  • If you don’t like American foreign policy or capitalism
  • Fake News from the 1950
  • If you liked Battle of Algiers or Lucia

The Breakdown

I am Cuba starts with aerial shots of the sea, land, coast, and forest. It’s no surprise that Columbus called it ‘the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen,’ because it looks like a version of Eden.

However, the idyllic scenery does not reflect the human injustice of the island. Much like Lucia, the four parts of I Am Cuba chart the progress from Cuba’s exploitation at the hands of the U.S. to the Cuban revolution. Each story slowly draws us closer to sympathies of the revolutionaries as the film slowly stokes up anti-America sentiment.

Whilst the stories are great, it’s the style of the film that sets this film apart from your typical film. The Russian directors in Cuba pretty much had free reign and budget to do what they wanted. There are endless shots which pirouette around the dance floor, sweep down from the sky onto rooftop parties, and contain lot of iconography. Some of the shots are so impressive you’ll forget this was made in the 1960s.

The Four Parts of Cuban History

  1. American capitalist tourists use the country as a Caribbean Vegas and buy the lower classes at the expense of traditional Cuban life.
  2. American corporations exploit the land at the expense of the Cuban working class.
  3. American-backed Cuban dictators rule the country with an iron fist preventing freedom of speech and expression.
  4. The same dictator ruthlessly destroys anyone who is associated with anyone who opposes him.

These are the four stages of the film, and the complete modern history of Cuba told through the eyes of Soviet Russia. It’s a history you never saw (it even failed to reach the screens in Cuba and the USSR) plus a cinematic masterpiece.

What to Watch Next

Not many films compare to this one, but you could definitely pair this film with either Lucia, another epic production from Cuba, or Battle of Algiers, a docu-fiction depicting the Algerian uprising against the French colonial/powers.

Or if you’re after more groundbreaking old films check out Battleship Potemkin, another cinematically revolutionary film from the USSR. You could even check out The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a silent film from the German new wave for another completely game-changing style.

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