
I Am Cuba
dir. Mikhail Kalatozov
89
8 sourcesSynopsis
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.
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.
What resonated with audiences
'I Am Cuba' stands as a landmark technical achievement with breathtaking cinematography and groundbreaking visual innovation that remains influential decades later. The impossible camera movements and stunning black-and-white imagery are universally celebrated as among cinema's finest. However, the film proves divisive regarding its political messaging, with some viewing it as powerful social commentary while others criticize it as heavy-handed propaganda. The minimal storyline and engagement level also polarize audiences, with visual spectacle sometimes overshadowing narrative substance.

Directed byMikhail Kalatozov
StarringSergio Corrieri, Salvador Wood, José Gallardo, Raúl García, Luz María Collazo, Jean Bouise
Written byYevgeny Yevtushenko, Enrique Pineda Barnet
CinematographySergei Urusevsky
MusicCarlos Fariñas
I Am Cuba
1964 · 2h 21m
Drama
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.
