Reviews

One of the advantages of making a propaganda film in communist countries is that you have full support of the government that you are favoring. With that in mind, it's no wonder that a film of this magnitude could be made only in a communist country (before it went bankrupt). Soy Cuba surprises the viewer over and over again as you expect the camera to cut, and just as you expect it to, it doesn't and whoosh, you're underwater, or you've just flown out a window and hover above a funeral procession of massive proportions. I ponder the planning it must have taken to concoct such long takes with each moment so thoughtfully planned out. As much as most people will credit this film with fabulous cinematography (which it arguably has), it is a direct result of the complex direction by Mikheil Kalatozishvili that gives the film its flow and strength. Long takes become boring if the rhythm of the film is not well choreographed (some Tarkovsky films have this problem, but not all). Soy Cuba is never boring. Of course, what is most interesting is to see Havana in all it's beauty just after Fidel's revolution and then to contrast that with the Cuba seen in Buena Vista Social Club. It says it all about the politics of this film. This one is purely worth watching for the choreography and cinematography, not for the silly ideology. This is required viewing for all filmmakers.

This film makes a lot of attempts, and for that it is admirable, but it's total lack of accuracy of a Mormon mission really prostitutes the faith and the greatness of missionary work. The ridiculous 29 year old Elder Dalton (no missionaries are allowed out after 26) who is known as pops by everyone including the mission president (no mission president should or would ever use such nicknames) could be acceptable if he didn't die from a brain tumor. How many preposterous things can happen in one movie? This gets a 3 out of 10 for it's attempts, but let's hope Dutcher learns how to write a story before his third film.