Mikhail Kalatozov's 1964 I Am Cuba spectacularly showcases its fervent political ideology through a series of fascinating vignettes set all around the nation. Made shortly following the collapse of the Batista regime, the picture takes up a fervently pro-Castro stance, painting the leader as a heroic defender of the poor, exploited people who struggle to make a living on the "weeping" island. Most of the film's episodes are dazzling, and I particularly enjoyed the tale of Maria/Betty (played by the gorgeous Luz Maria Collazo), a young girl who turns to prostitution to survive. Another excellent story belongs to Pedro (Jose Gallardo), an older farmer who burns his entire sugar cane crop and his home when he learns it has been sold by the landowner from whom he rents. The second half of the film delves more deeply into the lives of some revolutionaries, especially Enrique (Raul Garcia), a student who contemplates an assassination attempt on a corrupt police officer. One cannot watch I Am Cuba without noticing the stunning camerawork, which often seems free of the bounds of gravity, floating and gliding with a delicate ease through the lush scenery.
