SOY CUBA/Austin Film Society

A powerful film made in 1964 by a Russian and Cuban which was shown for one week and then shelved for 30 years.  After sell out performances at the FILM FORUM  (my favorite theater in Greenwich Village) in 1995 the film was finally distributed in the U.S.  It is a pro-Fidel and anti-Batista film shot beautifully in infra red (everything is startling white). The film shows us Cuba in the 1950's and is told in 4 stories.  We see girls lured into prostitution and treated miserably by wealthy Americans; a tenant farmer losing his livelihood; a university student lose his life to the cause; and a poor farmer leave his family and join the successful rebellion in the mountains.  It's a patriotic propagandist film that scores a powerful punch.  Chale provided us with six pages of program notes (how else would I know about infra red?) and great conversation following. A great night at Austin Film Society Essential Cinema.