Cuba and the Cameraman
A deeply personal longitudinal documentary traces three Cuban families through revolution, hardship, political upheaval, and four and a half decades of change.
Overview
A poignant exploration of life in Cuba through the eyes of three families over decades of change and hardship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- humanist
- reflective
- somber
- historical study
- documentary night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a captivating, unprecedented, and deeply human ground-level portrait of Cuba, while noting its political blind spots and limited introspection about Castro.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jon Alpert revisits three Cuban families over approximately 45 years, from the early 1970s through the 1990s and the period surrounding Fidel Castro's death.
The film centers struggling families and their lived experience alongside appearances by Fidel Castro and broader political developments.
Jon Alpert appears as himself and sustains decades-long bonds of trust with Cubans from different social levels.
The film juxtaposes Cuba's revolutionary and communist ideals with poverty, struggle, and the harrowing aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse.
Films like Cuba and the Cameraman, and why
Hoop Dreams
decades-spanning observational documentary portrait of political change through intimate family stories
Up Series
long-term documentary observation emphasizing ordinary lives, social conditions, and the passage of time
The Sorrow and the Pity
humanist political documentary built from sustained access and evolving relationships with subjects
Movie Details
- Director
- Jon Alpert
- Release Date
- 2017-09-08
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (123)
Cast
- Jon Alpert
- Fidel Castro
- Angél Borrego
- Cristobal Borrego
- Gregorio Borrego
- Luis Amores
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cuba and the Cameraman about?
- A deeply personal longitudinal documentary traces three Cuban families through revolution, hardship, political upheaval, and four and a half decades of change.
- What is Cuba and the Cameraman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cuba and the Cameraman as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Cuba and the Cameraman violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Cuba and the Cameraman.
- What did critics think of Cuba and the Cameraman?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a captivating, unprecedented, and deeply human ground-level portrait of Cuba, while noting its political blind spots and limited introspection about Castro.
- Which films are like Cuba and the Cameraman?
- Films with a similar feel include Hoop Dreams, Up Series, and The Sorrow and the Pity.
- How long is Cuba and the Cameraman?
- Cuba and the Cameraman runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cuba and the Cameraman?
- In United States, Cuba and the Cameraman streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
