Cuba and the Cameraman, a film capture story.

By Dr. Patrick ODougherty, Minnesota Cuba Committee, Yo soy Fidel.

On the 2016 death of Fidel Castro Jon Alpert and his team returned to Cuba a land and people the film producer had gotten to see and understand for the last 4 decades. In the documentary portrait Cuba and the Cameraman, Alpert and his motley crew turn to the streets of Cuba to film the march of USA mourners shouting, “Yo Soy Fidel!”

 As Alpert searches for interviews in generations of Cubans who have never known a Cuba or Cuban life without Fidel, the film moves jazzy disconnrwd from social justice film making in New York to Cuba. New York and Cuba have a similar size populations. The first impressions affected narrative moves from common cause wth Castro’s socialism which legislated free education, health care and housing for all Cubans.

Cuba Without Fidel: Cuba and the Camera man

Opening capture: Alpert begins filming what was wrong with Cuba.

For example, Cell phones weren’t invented until recent times.

Alpert Film looks at  5 decades of Cuban life.

Then, with Cuba and the Alpert the  camera man, Alpert’s Film Sequence Narratives!

I. Cuba School boards and parents

II. Better housing

IV Sweatshops in Cuba China town

V Budget cut backs in Cuba 

VI Mariel Bay boat-lift

VI Blockade Impact On Cuba

VII Fall of the Soviet States

VIII Fidel’s 80th Birthday.

Revolution is good for Cuba!

Ref. Pamphlet Minnesota Cuba Committee

‘Cuba and the Cameraman,” a captivating story 

Cuban Trinity: the Borregos

The move in Cuba moves to the countryside and a farm run by the Borregos, Angel, Cristobal and Gregorio, and enlighten the audience with their friendliness and rugged features and the tragic plundering of their cattle by young black marketeers 

The filmmakers meets his subjects at a commonly intimate level of interaction and stories. The film makers use a baby stroller to carry their equipment. Castro has great respect for the American people,

but contempt for the American government.

During the time period between Fidel’s New York trip and speech  and and the ascendancy of Raul Castro to the presidency of Cuba

Alpert returns haphazardly the Mariel boatlift the impact of the blockade on medical needs the fall of the Soviet block in 1989 which led to rationing, shortages of food blackouts and then the filming of Fidel’s 80th Birthday mi,Italy parade which was attended by Raul instead of a sick Fidel. The Party is not over. The party marches on.

www.minnesotacubacommittee.org

The 9th Minnesota Cuban Film Festival is presented by the Minnesota Cuba Committee, the Cuban Film Institute and the Film Society of Minneapolis.