COMANDANTE (2003)

Cast

Plot

Since 1959 Fidel Castro has been both pariah and paragon, an icon for young 'revolutionaries' and fashion victims, a committed leader of his people, a symbol of evil and distrust to the American government and his legacy has been made as much by myth as by fact. In this documentary politico/filmmaker Oliver Stone chose 95 minutes from 30 hours of footage that he filmed while spending time with Castro. The film opens with a placard stating that any time during the shooting Castro was able to say 'cut'. He never did. Trying to imagine anyone in any of the US administrations since 1960 speaking so eloquently, coherently and fluidly without backtracking out of fear or mistake seems laughable. I wonder why we've been told to fear Castro and his peers for all of these years?... Some highlights include Castro talking candidly about his workout routine, how he'd like to be remembered and his reflections on Che Guevara and the so-called 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. An inspiring watch.