One day, they might tell stories like this about us. If we keep fighting, one day, they will look back and see only the distortions of us and our struggle, only the broad strokes, and they will be so enamored with our victories that they make something as alive and wondrous as this to celebrate us. The story will not be exactly the same. The tourists who steal treasures and callously dismiss the women they use would be us as well, not some foreigners on our soil, partying and unleashing their unabashed, clawing, taking ids. Those of us descended of European settlers are the invaders here. No revolution here can realize true communism unless that legacy is addressed.

But the…

To love film is to love Soy Cuba. This Russian and Cuban collaboration captures the spirit of revolution and the soul of cinema. After having been lost for decades, and maligned as mere propaganda, this rediscovered masterpiece has earned its place as one of 20th century cinema’s real highlights.

The most apparent genius of Soy Cuba is the filmmaking. The director’s other acclaimed feature, The Cranes are Flying, showed an incredibly grasp of visual storytelling as well as a virtuosity behind the camera. This is that times a thousand. There are shots in here that echo throughout cinema and that have never been equalled. It is most famous for its long takes, like one that Paul Thomas Anderson homages in…

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Soy Cuba is the first film I've seen from director Mikhail Kalatozov, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. What a ravishing film, especially from the perspective of the camera. It is within the rousing emotion and energy of revolution that Mikhail Kalatozov offers a magical entry-point into this landscape. Long-takes that float through the air, observing the action, finding beauty in its top-down construction. Not to mention the intimacy of the camera in close-ups, a reminder that this is a personal story, no matter the success of its style. The innovative power of the images are properly conveying the importance of the subject. This is no mere exercise, but a historical snapshot, a cry for change, all…

(Criterion Laser Disc Collection)
(Foreign language film - Spanish)

Director Mikhail Kalatozov's magical camera swoops over and around this island paradise to present a tragic romanticized view of life for people leading up to the Cuban revolution.

"I am Cuba. Sometimes it seems to me that the sap of my palm trees are full of blood. Sometimes it seems to me that the murmuring sounds... around us are not the ocean but choked-back tears of the people. Who answers for this blood? Who is responsible for these tears?"

While the masterful camerawork of I am Cuba is clearly more dazzling and epic compared to the other Kalatozov film I have seen 'The Cranes Are Flying'. I would say I am…

The opening scene brings us a beachside beauty contest full of beautiful girls parading around and being applauded for being, well, beautiful, and sets the mood for what is truly a stunningly attractive film. Close up shots of local characters and American 'visitors' stretch deep inside the personalities of the people with the romantic beat of the rumba pushing along.

The pace of the film, the camera movement and lighting bring a feeling of oppressive heat and passion to proceedings, and its not long before you get completely lost inside the humid tropicana of 50's Cuba.

Chock full of nationalist political rhetoric, Soy Cuba captures the emotion of a country in turmoil during a shift in power from Batista's late…

Film reviews in 22 sentences (or less)
Today: I Am Cuba

"Soy Cuba"
(Narrator)

Hi everybody, this was the first movie I watched, from the innovative filmmakers Mikhail Kalatozov, director and Sergei Urusevsky, camera man. We, The Two Cineasts, are huge fans of aestetical cinematography and long takes. We just love the visual communication of movies. We have released two lists of our favourite Camera works, with a total number of 44 pictures. The first spots are reserved for Tarkovsky and Kubrick films, but since I watched Kalatozov/ Urusevsky movies, I think we need to rethink the lists order... I have first read and heard about the movies, of these two filmmakers, here on Letterboxd, and after watching many different…

Mikhail Kalatozov takes us to the last days of Fulgencio Batista's decadent and authoritarian Cuba through four stories in which he captures the dichotomy lived on the island during the 1950s and that serves as the basis on which the Cuban revolution emerges. Luxurious hotels where foreigners spend their vacations contrast with the poor neighborhoods of Havana; farmers stripped of land they have worked for generations due to capitalist interests; the awakening of young people to social injustice, and the beginning of revolutionary action that will bring well-being to the Cuban people.

Soy Cuba is interesting as both historical document and propaganda because, although some of its ideas may be antiquated or romantic, and sometimes falls into exoticism, it is…

“I used to think, in life, death was the worst. Now I know, in life, life is the worst”

It’s just a masterpiece innit. I can’t think of a more mesmerising experience in film, to the point where I now want to educate myself on Cuba, its culture and all its values. I don’t think a film has ever grasped me in the way this film did. As a film that’s basically communist propaganda, detailing four different stories conveying the attitude of Cubans before Castro’s revolution became victorious. Also released two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, while Cold War tensions were extremely high. It does everything that it sets out to do in the best way possible. It’s incredible…

Ok, this film is socialist propaganda straight to the face -obviously-, however it was not executed in a terrible way at all, actually it has some points in favor. I can imagine how many minds were changed by this in that time. To begin with, the visuals are delightful, many of the tracking shots and the use of the camera were made with a creative and emotional approach, which is something impresive for its time. The main plot was presented in different views/perspectives directly related with the problem. The film has a cultural significance, you may consider it as good or bad but that won't change its influence. The negatives would be how long it feels, after 30-40 mins begins…

Dutch angle longtake the movie!

I loved this movie so much. It has the most incredible camerawork I've ever seen in any movie. Like I mentioned it makes very much use of the Dutch angle which is very visually pleasing and underlines the atmosphere the movie tries to create. But The most incredible thing in this movie are the longtakes wether it is starting a take on a roof with a jazz band and ending it a few minutes later underwater in a pool a floor below or starting take on a face of a woman and ending it with the camera going above a huge crowd. The fact that this movie was made without cgi or camera drones makes…

I am Cuba. Once, Christopher Columbus landed here. He wrote in his diary: "This is the most beautiful land ever seen by human eyes." Thank you, Señor Columbus. When you saw me for the first time, I was singing and laughing. I waved the fronds of my palms to greet your sails. I thought your ships brought happiness. I am Cuba. Ships took my sugar, and left me tears. Strange thing... sugar, Señor Columbus. It contains so many tears, but it is sweet...

I am Cuba. Why are you running away? You came here to have fun? Go ahead, have fun! Is this a happy picture? Don't avert your eyes. Look! I am Cuba. For you, I am the casino,…