I Am Cuba

Released Mar 8, 1995

2h 21m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

92%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

A study in contrasts set in and around Havana that explores Cuba's 1959 revolution. A young woman's fascination with the excess of an American-owned casino leads to her downfall in the eyes of her street vendor boyfriend. A tenant farmer revolts the only way he knows how, attacking the land he works. University students gain first-hand knowledge of political upheaval. And, in the hills outside the city, the members of a poor peasant family are patriotically swept up into the burgeoning revolt.

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Critics Consensus

Visually absorbing and formally audacious, I Am Cuba (Soy Cuba) opens a long-buried time capsule that has lost none of its captivating power.

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Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

I Am Cuba is a cinephile's wet dream, a collage of Herculean feats of technical wizardry that would be easy to dismiss if it wasn't so humane.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 17, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Some of the most exhilarating camera movements and most luscious black-and-white cinematography you'll ever see inhabit this singular, delirious 141-minute communist propaganda epic.

Sep 17, 2007

Full Review

David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Politically nave maybe, but it works beautifully as straight cinema.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Michael J. Casey

Metro Arts

Invigorating cinema.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 26, 2024

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

One of the most extraordinary pieces of revolutionary propaganda ever produced, as vibrant and vital as anything the Soviets released during the silent era.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 24, 2024

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Within the framework of its narrative limitations, it is a radical film in which Kalatozov, supported by an aesthetic that consistently elevates its formal properties, narrates a sober anthology, truthful in its propaganda model. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Mar 10, 2024

Full Review

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Audience Member

The quotes, long shots, camerawork and script are the most powerful poetry of pictures that I've seen. 9/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Though being an part of soviet propaganda undoubtedly, the film is so masterfully crafted and filmed it nevertheless brings a lot of thought and shows off the life of cubans of the period as it was probably never showed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The three stars comprise an average of the five star cinematography, which is absolutely superb and the one star for content. It's woeful propaganda and only the first story has the power to transcend the transparently nonsense political message.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

s r

Unique and special. Cuba under Castro and the things they highlight are neat. TCM

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bit boring, especially if you have no interest of Cuba. Wide angle looks stunning

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Its visual style is like a seminar about using a camera with full potential. Extraordinary cinematography.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Mikhail Kalatozov

Director

Luz María Collazo

Maria

Jean Bouise

Jim

Sergio Corrieri

Alberto

José Gallardo

Pedro

Raul Garcia

Enrique

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Synopsis

A study in contrasts set in and around Havana that explores Cuba's 1959 revolution. A young woman's fascination with the excess of an American-owned casino leads to her downfall in the eyes of her street vendor boyfriend. A tenant farmer revolts the only way he knows how, attacking the land he works. University students gain first-hand knowledge of political upheaval. And, in the hills outside the city, the members of a poor peasant family are patriotically swept up into the burgeoning revolt.

Director: Mikhail Kalatozov
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 1995, Original
Release Date (DVD): Sep 15, 2009
Runtime: 2h 21m

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