Customer Reviews

I Am Cuba

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

La película "Soy Cuba" es un drama en negro y blanco que es muy fuerte y me produjo un gran impacto. El director de "Soy Cuba" (1964) es Mikheil Kalatozov, un Ruso famoso. El hizo muchas película, pero los dramas muy popular son "Salt of Svanetia" (1930) y "The Nail in the Boot" (1932). En 1995, "Soy Cuba" fue restrenada por Francis Ford Coppola. La película es en tres lenguas- inglés, español, y ruso. Las estrellas son Sergio Corrieri, Salvador Wood, José Gallardo, Raul Garcia, y Luz María Collazo. "Soy Cuba" tiene que ver con la colaboración rusa y cubana y lleva atención a la injusticia y opresión en cuba. Por la película, uno quede ver que para un grupo de gente (los hombres de negocios, los ricos) las cosas van bien, pero para otro grupo de gente (los pobres, campesinos) las cosas no van bien. "Soy Cuba" muestra partes de la revolución cubana en cuatro partes. Los cuatro episodios en "Soy Cuba" toman lugar en La Habana y el campo. El primero episodio toma lugar en La Habana. Hay hombres de negocios que hablan inglés y cubanas prostitutas. Hay una mujer, María-Betty, que está viviendo dos vidas. María tiene un novio que se llama René que es vendor de frutas. Por otro lado, Betty es una prostituta. María-Betty sirve para representar Cuba y las relaciones divididas. El segundo episodio toma lugar en el campo y tiene que ver con los compesinos y United Fruit. En este episodio, las cosecha es quemada. En el campo, uno puede ver un estilo de vida muy diferente de la vida en la Habana. He tecer episodio toma lugar en la Habana otra vez. Tiene que ver con Enrique, un estudiante que quería matar a jefe de la policía pero no podía porque el jefe estaban con sus niños. El jefe de la policía mató a Enrique en el fin. En este episodio también hay una mujer que se llama Gloria y algunos marineros estado unidos. El cuaro episodio forma parte de la revolución de la guerrilla en el campo otra vez. Uno puede ver un lado, La Habana de Batista, y también la pobreza y opresión de la gente de Cuba. También, hay mucha naturaleza (como el cielo y el mar) que tiene un espacio central en la película. Cuba es su gente y también es la tierra. Cuba incluye los campesinos, estudiantes, prostitutas, extranjeros de los Estados Unidos, el gobierno, hombres de negocios, marineros, los rebeldes, los dueños de tierra, los niños, los trabajadores urbanos, y la policía cubana. Esta película muestra bien la injusticia y opresión en Cuba antes y durante la revolución, una parte muy importante de la historía. "Soy Cuba" es una película muy conmevedor a que merece la pena verla.

Like many Soviet movies, this movie I think has double context. It should be remembered that 5 years before the shooting of this movie in Tbilisi, hometown of the Director, actual demonstration started by students and joined by citizens was shot down by the government and dozens of people died.

The reminiscence of this tragedy was the reason why the movie was only for a week or so in Soviet Cinema houses and was later hidden in archive.

I had the pleasure to view this film on wide-screen at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts cinema venue back around 1996 or so. It was utterly breathtaking...and a special treat for me since I also speak Spanish and Russian as foreign languages (I for one, didn't mind the subtle Russian dubbing following the sentences in Spanish & English). I notice most of the reviewers comment on it's role as a "communist propoganda film". Yes, well, the film tries hard to follow the "Socialist Realist" of 'official' Soviet Art, but it (thankfully utterly) fails to do so and slides breathlessly into a "Magical Realist" mode with elements that Soviet critics would have disdained as "metaphysical". Indeed, the remarkable thing is that this film was BANNED in the USSR *and* CUBA shortly after its release. Didn't sit well with the Politburo, etc. The cinematography is wonderful. Yes, it is critical of the Norteamericanos, but the film does not demonize them. Think of the scene w/ the American sailors...I was anticipating a fight and a violent rape...but it doesn't happen. The film could have been much harsher on the US than it was. I may very well buy this film on VHS. I'm happy to see it available for rent at my local Blockbuster's.

Superbe! Mais ce film ne devrait pas être catégorisé dans Espagne! Il est plutôt des Pays de l'Est...

Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?Why have you dopes put this in the Spain Categorgy?

I was a twenty-something and living in La Habana when this film was made. It did not do good business in La Habana or anywhere else on the island because we knew it to be a lie. As a joke we referred to it as "I AM Not Cuba" (although we never dared to joke publicly). I remember it was even a source of embarassment to some of my school friends who had joined the party for advancement and worked at the Ministry of Education, assigned to promote the film.

Having said this, I want to state that the picture is certainly a marvel of cinematography and direction. It is genuinely beautiful and graceful cinema. If you do not mind that it is all one big lie, (and I suspect that most who will see it, don't mind one bit) it will be of much enjoyment. Is beauty still beautiful when at the service of evil? Apparently yes.

For those who enjoy world cinema and Soviet cinema in particular, I can also recommend SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS by the great Sergei Paradjanov. Coincidentally made around the same time, poor Paradjanov was even still more beautiful but did not lie. He was sentenced to prison and served hard labor as a consequence.

this film, though obviously propaganda, is amazing. the cinematography is incredible (in fact, i have heard that Paul Thomas Anderson based a scene in Boogie Nights on on here), and it is visually moving. it also captures the revolutionary spirit of change that was so strong at that time. however, the only reason i do not give it an all-out 5 stars, is because the true beauty that this film could have been is sometimes blocked by the propanganda. no matter, this film is a must for any movie-buff, or anyone intersted in a great film.

Unfortunately, the film is too long and its political content irritatingly simplistic (as one might expect, given that it was produced under the Soviet regime). In spite of these flaws, "I Am Cuba" is one of the most beautiful movies I have EVER seen, and most of it is delightful.

Understand this: I am fanatical about this movie. But Image's DVD transfer is so painfully inept to watch -- horrid print, spots and speckles, strobing due to oddball frame rate, hideous contrast levels -- that I couldn't bear to watch the DVD beyond 10 minutes.

The person responsible for such an incompetent and abysmal edition of this can't miss movie should be flayed alive in front of all true lovers of cinema. Image, which chopped 10 minutes out of JULIET OF THE SPIRITS despite the representations of the packaging, is the Good Times Video of DVD. That they would do such a worthless job for a Fellini film is cause for anger. That they would due this again to Kalazotov is sacrilegous.

The movie is truly awe inspiring as it brings not just great camerawork but also a true study of the hardships inflicted upon not only the people of Cuba, but of many Latin American nations of the present day.