I Am Cuba

Rating:
Summary: A Most Visually Breathtaking Film
Review: Any serious student of filmmaking should view this film;eye-popping camera movements filmed in long takes.The black and white cinematography ranks as some of the best I have seen.Note:Boogie Nights has a camera reference that was directly lifted from this film.

Rating:
Summary: "Soy Cuba"
Review: Es interesante notar que en las cuatro partes de la película "Soy Cuba" se puede ver que el tema está al lado de Castro y contra el gobierno antiguo. Y eso había sido hecho a través de las personas principales como Batista el jefe de la policía, María-Betty, y las prostitutas, etc. También la perspectiva de los personas de los E.E.U.U. es de mala representación. Por ejemplo los soldados estadounidenses que se emborrachan y siguen a la mujer, Gloria, gritando y tocándola. Y los hombres al principio de la película tratan a las prostitutas como si fuera propiedades suyas. Las personas cubanos de la película vienen de vidas diferentes; las prostitutas los estudiantes, los campesinos, etc., y sus luchas para lograr la libertad contra las fuerzas de Batista. Es obvio que el jefe de la policía es una persona central que da una representación mala para dar otro ejemplo negativo del gobierno antiguo de Batista y lo bueno de Castro; por los rumores que Castro estaba muerto muestra las ideas al lado de Castro y contra Batista. Sobre todo la cinematografía de la película(negro y blanco) es increíble con aspectos diferentes de filmar que sirven muy bien para representar qué significa la película. Y si quiere acción "Soy Cuba" tiene bastante para evitar el aburrimiento. La única cosa es que "Soy Cuba" ha sido "dubbed" en ruso y esto podría molestar a algunas personas. Pero más que nada es una película maravillosa y vale la pena verla.

Rating:
Summary: "Soy Cuba"
Review: Es interesante notar que en las cuatro partes de la película "Soy Cuba" se puede ver que el tema está al lado de Castro y contra el gobierno antiguo. Y eso había sido hecho a través de las personas principales como Batista el jefe de la policía, María-Betty, y las prostitutas, etc. También la perspectiva de los personas de los E.E.U.U. es de mala representación. Por ejemplo los soldados estadounidenses que se emborrachan y siguen a la mujer, Gloria, gritando y tocándola. Y los hombres al principio de la película tratan a las prostitutas como si fuera propiedades suyas. Las personas cubanos de la película vienen de vidas diferentes; las prostitutas los estudiantes, los campesinos, etc., y sus luchas para lograr la libertad contra las fuerzas de Batista. Es obvio que el jefe de la policía es una persona central que da una representación mala para dar otro ejemplo negativo del gobierno antiguo de Batista y lo bueno de Castro; por los rumores que Castro estaba muerto muestra las ideas al lado de Castro y contra Batista. Sobre todo la cinematografía de la película(negro y blanco) es increíble con aspectos diferentes de filmar que sirven muy bien para representar qué significa la película. Y si quiere acción "Soy Cuba" tiene bastante para evitar el aburrimiento. La única cosa es que "Soy Cuba" ha sido "dubbed" en ruso y esto podría molestar a algunas personas. Pero más que nada es una película maravillosa y vale la pena verla.

Rating:
Summary: A lush, rich black and white film? Yes!!!
Review: I am Cuba, the Soviet film presented by Scorcese and Copola, is an amazing discovery! In the style of Eisenstein, it is a striking collage of pre-revolutionary Cuba. Despite its propogandistic weight (actually only ponderous towards the end) this film soars with the soul and the richness of spirit of the Cuban people. It is definitely not for the "gusanos" in Miami who have failed to acknowledge the courage and dignity of their own countrymen.

Rating:
Summary: I am Cuba
Review: I am Cuba. I am Cuba. I am Cuba. These words echo during the movie of the same name. Who exactly is Cuba though? The answer is easy. The farmers, the students, the foreigners, the goverment, the rebels, the children, the land, and the ideas, they are Cuba. The movie, which occurred during the revolution of Castro examines all of the aspects of Cuba at the time. It looked at rich and poor people and connected the two groups. The poor prostitutes connected with the businessmen of the United States. The poor farmer connected with the rich fruit companies, and the students with, with the government. I liked the movie, but it seemed to me that there was only one side to it. I am Cuba was more a movie of propaganda than pleasure. All americans were bad and the Batista government was horrible, but the prositutes, the rebels, and followers of Castro were the victims. A person today needs to question the truthfulness of the movie when many people try to leave the Cuba of Castro for a better live in the United States. One other problem that I have with I am Cuba was with the dubbing. The russian was complicated and at times I did not understand what exactly the narrator was saying. There is too much happening with the words of the movie and I think that it would have been better if the languages had been limited. I found I am Cuba to do a good job of showing the ideas of the people of the country at the time, but I did not actually believe all parts of the movie. I feel sorry for the lack of freedom of the people of Cuba during the time. No person should live like this, but I do not believe that if Castro was the leader of Cuba the conditions would have been better. Remember, Castro, became and is today enemy number one of his people and the world.

Rating:
Summary: I Am Cuba
Review: I don't know any filmmakers who are not stunned by this visual masterpiece. The hand held shot that traverses a hotel in decadent, pre-Castro Cuba is the stuff of legend- a long moving camera shot that floats through space as if suspended by magic. And this was before the steady-cam was invented. The opening aerials shot with infrared film alone justify this film's 5 star rating. You don't have to take the politics seriously to admire the fluid camera work and unique aural-visual style of this little seen master work.

Rating:
Summary: Don't forget that USSR banned this film!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: I AM NOT CUBA
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: It is a shame that this movie has not been hailed as one of this century's cinematic achievements.

I realize that this is a piece of propaganda distributed to justify the revolution which itself would eventually resort to similar tactics to supress dissention. I don't care.

I still think that this is an amazing work.

Rating:
Summary: A Cinematic Achievement
Review: Kalatozov's I Am Cuba is a cinematic achievement, one of the century's landmark films, despite that it is relatively unknown. Although the film stands as a hymn exalting Castro's Revolution in Cuba, I Am Cuba transcends its narrative into an artistic tour de force, deftly combining and distilling cinematic styles of the era. Threading together elements of Italian neo-realism, French New Wave, and even Fellini's gravity-defying lens of modernity in the vein of La Dolce Vita and Nights of Cabiria, Kalatozov creates a lush and passionate vision so rarely seen in cinema. I Am Cuba, if seen on the big screen, is breath-taking: from the opening title sequence featuring an aerial shot of the island's palms wafting in a tropical breeze, to the closing drama of the mountain guerrillas fighting with verve for a united cause. It is truly a triumphant accomplishment!