With 90 years one of the great historical figures of the XNUMXth century has disappeared. For some a true mentor and reference. In other cases, the worst nightmare.
As far as the world of cinema is concerned, the Cuban revolution has been portrayed in the cinema in several films. Some of these titles have gone down in the history of the seventh art, with capital letters.
Mikhail Kalatozov
This filmmaker, who will shoot some of the most important titles in the history of Soviet cinemaIt would take him to Cuba in 1962. Only three years after the triumph of the Cuban revolution, to make a film about it.
In 1964 "I am Cuba ”, as a solidarity gesture of the then Soviet Union towards the Cuban government. In addition, it was about protesting against the US blockade.
It is said that "Soy Cuba" is the most beautiful and significant film of the Cuban revolution.
The narrator of the film said “I am Cuba. When men are born they have two paths: that of the yoke that forces and subdues or that of the star that illuminates and kills”. You will choose the star. Hard will be the road and we will mark it with our blood.
I am cuba
This film, directed at the time by a Soviet Mikhail Kalatozov makes a cinematographic journey, through four stories, of the transformation of Cuba. In reality, despite a display of technical and narrative skills, there is a lot of ideological propaganda.
Habana
Although this is not the best Sidney Pollack film, it is an interesting portrait of the revolution in Cuba, but from an American point of view.
This film was released in the turbulent years prior to Castro's sudden arrival. Havana was still a party place for North American tourists.
CHE, the Argentine
Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh made a diptych on the figure of Che Guevara. In this film an analysis is made more similar to a documentary fiction than to a dramatic film.
An excellent historical document.
Thirteen days
Narrate the call missile crisis, in the middle of the Cold War, under Kennedy in the United States.
To prevent the United States from intervening in Cuba, nuclear missiles are installed. East nuclear conflict it would end the dismantling of the missiles by Cuba.
Before dark
Schnabel would direct this biopic of the poet Reinaldo Arenas, a Cuban exile due to his ideas and his homosexuality. Reinaldo went to the United States to find a hole and a vital space that Cuba denied him.
This film does not portray so much the country as the hardships the character endured. However, the contradictions of the Cuban regime and also of the American dream.
Bananas
Woody Allen's movie number three would be a crazy parody of the Cuban revolution.
In its plot, Allen plays a New York urbanite who begins a relationship with a young left-wing girl. For her he will end up traveling to a small South American country immersed in an armed revolution.
Un humor with surreal touches they make for a movie full of gags, some of them very brilliant.
Strawberry and Chocolate
One of the best known Cuban films. This Hispanic-Mexican co-production is directed as a duo by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío.
It tells us about the friendship established by a young liberal homosexual and a conservative communist in a Cuba very intolerant of sexual diversity.
Although Castro's Cuba was presented to us as an example of leftist ideologies, the truth is that sexual freedoms were not exactly favored.
Havana Quartet
Another essential title. Fernando Colomo would direct this comedy about an aspiring musician from Madrid who travels to Cuba when he receives a video of a woman who claims to be his mother.
Its protagonists were Ernesto Alterio, Javier Cámara, Mirta Ibarra and Laura Ramos. Javier Cámara highlighted the good experience of filming this film, but the shocking of the harsh Cuban reality.
This film avoid making references to the political reality of the country, but it reflects the ingenuity and picaresque of citizens with very few resources.
Commanding
It's a documentary made by Oliver Stone. The director has expressed his admiration for Fidel Castro on more than one occasion. In any case, the movie is a very subjective version of the well-known filmmaker.
Juan of the Dead
Taking advantage of the trend about zombie cinema, came this movie that parodied the decadence of today's Cuba. The story is told of Juan, a man in his forties who spends his time doing nothing.
When Cuba suffers a zombie invasion, Juan sees his chance to prosper offering his services as a hunter of the undead.
The Godfather II
The great Francis Ford Coppola also wanted to pay his own tribute to the Cuban Revolution in 1974, in The Godfather II. It's New Years Eve 1958 Michael Corleone and his brother Fredo are at the party of the dictator Batista.
The head of the Corleone family has discovered the second's betrayal. She looks for him among the guests, reaches out to him and kisses him on the mouth. "I knew it Fredo it was you. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!".
The tyrant flees and Fidel Castro and the revolutionaries enter Havana. Victory of the Revolution.
Stories of the revolution and other films by Titón
During the beginning of the new Cuba, in 1960, Tomás Gutiérrez Titon premiered the first film about the insurrection.
Stories of the revolution are three episodes that occurred during the dictatorship, in Sierra Maestra and, finally, in the capture of Santa Clara, with whom ethical conflicts arise in the midst of the struggle.
The tone of "Histories of the Revolution" would change in a total way six years later with "Death of a bureaucrat ”, where bureaucratic chaos is denounced in a satirical way.
Vampires in Havana
A 1985 film, the second of animation directed by Juan Padrón. In it, there are two organized gangs, that of the Chicago vampires (Capa Nostra) and that of the Europeans (Grupo Vampiro).
Both gangs are going to face each other in a war for the Vampisol formula, which would allow them to resist the sun. This precious jewel will remain in the hands of
Pepito is a trumpeter nephew of the scientist who has created the precious jewel.
The young musician it will become a target of the gangsters. But together with his revolutionary friends they will ensure that all vampires can enjoy the sun.