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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Possibly one of the most subversive films of recent years, Stone's interview all but blows the US propaganda image of Castro and Cuba out of the water. Castro emerges as a thoughtful, highly intelligent leader and - in several telling sequences depicting impromptu strolls through the streets of Havana, one that is regarded with more than a little respect and affection by Cubans. An encouraging 'must see' for those who have even a modicum of doubt concerning Castro's more vociferous critics.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Propaganda is a strange thing. If you recognise something as being propaganda, then it isn't having it's effect. Progaganda, to be effective, must be insidious. So when something is shown to you of which you have no direct experience, how do you know if it's propaganda?
I asked myself that question all through this film. Is this a piece of propaganda? I recently returned from Cuba and found the country fascinating, frustrating and full of paradox. There is poverty, but little despair. There is little to buy, but a guaranteed food ration. So I watched this film with one cynical eye, but I found little to criticise. Silly things - Castro's walkabout in Havana for example. I recognise where he went, and he appears to only walk about 50metres. Big deal. He says there are few prostitutes in Cuba..hmm, maybe we unintentionally went to the red light district but we were offered women everwhere. These are minor things. We met people who love Castro, with tatoos of Fidel and Che on their arms. We met people who simple accepted him at best, and were patirently waiting for him to die in the hope of better things. The same as any country and any country's leader.
This film is like Cuba itself, fascinating and frustrating. Stone asks some very interesting questions, but no really difficult ones. No Jeremy Paxman here, but if you listen to the alternative director's commentary (one of the few on DVD actually worth listening to) the interrogative style wasn't Stone's intention - he wants to get to the man, to talk to the human behind the icon that is Castro.
An absoleutly riveting documentary. Regardless of your politics, or what propaganda you've been conciously or unconciously exposed to, this is a great film.
I asked myself that question all through this film. Is this a piece of propaganda? I recently returned from Cuba and found the country fascinating, frustrating and full of paradox. There is poverty, but little despair. There is little to buy, but a guaranteed food ration. So I watched this film with one cynical eye, but I found little to criticise. Silly things - Castro's walkabout in Havana for example. I recognise where he went, and he appears to only walk about 50metres. Big deal. He says there are few prostitutes in Cuba..hmm, maybe we unintentionally went to the red light district but we were offered women everwhere. These are minor things. We met people who love Castro, with tatoos of Fidel and Che on their arms. We met people who simple accepted him at best, and were patirently waiting for him to die in the hope of better things. The same as any country and any country's leader.
This film is like Cuba itself, fascinating and frustrating. Stone asks some very interesting questions, but no really difficult ones. No Jeremy Paxman here, but if you listen to the alternative director's commentary (one of the few on DVD actually worth listening to) the interrogative style wasn't Stone's intention - he wants to get to the man, to talk to the human behind the icon that is Castro.
An absoleutly riveting documentary. Regardless of your politics, or what propaganda you've been conciously or unconciously exposed to, this is a great film.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Looking for an image of Fidel Castro beyond what the majority of the Western world are force fed? Look no further. This film portrays a genuine revolutionary, and an approachable leader. I was glued to this for the entirety, and Stone does well, despite a few cringe moments (due to sensitive allegations against cuba), to allow Castro to truly shine as a funny and emotional man. One of the few documentaries to grab the attention for the full hour and a half
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent rare insight into Fidel Castro's life
Well made and (for a good part of the time) impartial documentary on Fidel Castro and his work before he stepped down as commandante-en-jefe. Read more
Published 6 months ago by the_scream_uk
Hasta la victoria siempre
I wanted to hear directly from the horse's mouth about the revolution in Cuba. At the time of the revolutionary victory I was very much against the fascist Batista and cheered on... Read more
Published 12 months ago by P.J. Gibbons
A Must See
I purchased this after reading a few of the reviews on Amazon, which were honest and impartial, and I was not prepared to watch any documentary that was designed to be... Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. Abdalnour
Fascinating
With so much propaganda (from both sides of the political spectrum) aimed at Fidel Castro, it is difficult to get a true picture of the man. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by MR NC SHACKLEY
DVD purchase
Good service - arrived promptly, good price, brand new. A must see - long live Fidel and hope
Published on 28 July 2009 by J. Haskew
Comandante
`Comandante' is a compelling and fascinating interview with Castro filmed in 2002. It looks at a variety of topics from the revolution, bay of pigs, Che Guevara, modern Cuba and... Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by Spider Monkey
Unparalleled access to a world leader
From start to finish this is an engrossing documentary. Anybody who is interested in the topics of communism, Cuba, or just American Imperialism owes it to themselves to watch this... Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2008 by Charles H. Nolan
An excellent, fascinating film but also flawed.
An excellent, fascinating film but also flawed. Whatever you think about Fidel this film shows you how incredibly intelligent, charming and personable the man is. Read more
Published on 4 July 2007 by C. Brophy
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