Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

mountainstonePT What an amazing film! Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola sponsored it's resurrection. While certainly overall a communist propaganda film, it goes way beyond it, to be a very modern film.Directed by Soviet filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov it is a masterpiece of black and white filmmaking. The use of amazing black and white filtration, ultraviolet filmmaking, spectacular storytelling and absolutely stunning tracking shots, is simply first class filmmaking. Kalatosov unfortunately would not have been considered for an Academy Award in the world of Cold War 1960s, , but the film is certainly worthy of one. A very modern story, with the sets using 1963 Havana, before the rot set in, makes it feel like any modern city. The story, could be taken from Viet Nam, Egypt 2011, Nicaragua 1984,or wherever a corrupt dictatorship, sponsored by western corporate support, is running roughshod over people just trying to live their lives. The film "Even the Rain" is similar to this in general idea. If you are into film, you really ought to see this film, regardless of your politics. Check out the fabulous trailer for it. I don't give it a 10, because it's storyline is bit dated and stilted, but still, the script is much more modern than many films of it's day. I suppose that given that the Manchurian Candidate was produced in this era, that it's right up there with that kind of film from the US.

cynthiahost Whats really different form a dictatorship centered around greed or one that's in the name of the people.Both are bad and Cuba is still not democratic yet.But this movie is good.Created in a documentary type style.At first I was surprised how it began , knowing that this was a communistic propaganda film,or seems that way.The modern hotel sequence .The beauty contest and the rock music.It later dawn on me that this was about Cuba in it's first dictatorship,right before more corruption.Baptista and Castro .Whats the difference?It first it starts out with a women name Maria who is forced to do prostitution to make end meet.Her boyfriend who sells fruit on the street wants to marry her in the church.But she reject him He eventually finds out when he goes to her hut with bananas and the tourist leaves.Then the tourist faces poverty every where .Children asking of money from him.The narrator states You want fun? that's fine but there's poverty too.Then the next story is a struggling sugar cane farmer and his two grown children.He has been struggling to grow sugarcane .He finally has done it.With his two children help they start chopping it down.everything looks good until the men he got the loan from take his land away from him,then theirs an attempt by an anti Baptista activist to assassination one of the officials.A student protest that leads to death.I don't know how the filmmaker got away with this.since it criticized the poverty that still existed after Castro.It really has not gotten better.Although years later Castro would allow the gambling place and more night clubs to reopen for the tourist economy.But it's difficult to visit and really it's not worth it,to give money to a dictatorship. 08/12/12

michaelrhames An amazing film. That Yevteshenko sat down and put the ideology of Cuban and Russian understanding into perspective for the world is beyond much literal beauty. People need to wake up and get a hold of this movie, especially since the subject of Cuba is only poorly touched on in most places. "I Am Cuba" introduces viewers to a culture, a system and a country that possesses a unique beauty and an ethical, well educated mentality, despite its struggles and poverty. It teaches us that Cuban people struggle with dignity and self awareness, much like what can be seen in many Alea films. The world looks at Cuba with ignorant eyes, but Cuban cinema can easily correct our initial judgment. "I Am Cuba" was for a long time the most exquisite portrayal of Cuban culture I had seen, with a careful and original story that could not have been imagined in another society. But while the shots are gorgeous and the story compelling, for today's Cuban Talent fanatics I highly recommend a VLaMarko play in the city. "I Am Cuba" is hard to create on the stage, but the young Cuban writer seems to derive a lot of influence from Russian and Chilean literature, particularly Yevtushenko for his first production. Both of these monuments display a Cuba still ripe with revolution, humanity and struggle among beauty, although made nearly half a century apart. Thumbs up+++++

tieman64 "I am Cuba" is a Soviet funded propaganda film designed to promote international socialism. It deals with the Cuban revolution but is mostly remembered for its acrobatic and innovative camera work.The film was virtually unknown for a number of years, before reappearing in the late 80s. Its inventive style would prove hugely influential on both Paul Thomas Anderson and late period Scorsese. "Goodfellas" and "Casino" owe much to this film. "Boogie Nights" also copies a long take, in which a camera prowls a party before eventually diving into a swimming pool.Director Mikhail Kalatozov, who made the excellent "The Cranes are Flying", remains virtually unknown today. His films are filled with remarkably complex long takes and some pretty daring camera-work. For "I am Cuba" he custom made his own rigs, dollies and camera mounts, and as a result the film has a virtuosity that you simply didn't see in the 50s and 60s. Kalatozov zooms along buildings, hurtles up staircases, zaps down Cuban streets and plunges through pulsating crowds. The film's actual plot consists of 4 interwoven stories, designed to promote revolution and the "greatness of socialism". The problem is, Kalatozov is so in love with his camera that he completely forgets he's making a propaganda flick. The film touches upon some facts, highlighting that a handful of American owned mega corporations were oppressing the vast majority of Cuban people, but it also makes Capitalism seem damn seductive, by focusing on snazzy American hotels, partying Cubans and the fun nightlife.As a result of the film's confused message, "I am Cuba" was rejected by its Marxist backers. The film's flamboyant style was seen to be too free, too liberating, thereby obscuring the intended message. We see shanty towns and poverty and yet Kalatozov makes it all seem so damn sexy.7.5/10 - A strange film. Still, it remains a technical milestone.Worth one viewing.