Name: Memória Cubana
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2011-03-19
Duration: 1 h 10 min
Rating: 8.5
Cast: Santiago Álvarez, Alfredo Guevara, Julia Yip

Cuban cinema and counter-hegemonic struggle in the XXth century

Good Brazilian documentary filmed in Cuba (together with great footage by Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry - ICAIC) and spoken in Spanish and Portuguese. It is about the weekly Latin American Newsreel produced by ICAIC and some documentaries ditected by its legendary filmmaker Santiago Álvarez. Besides segments of the films which cover some of the most important political events of the 60's and 70's (specifically about cold war conflicts, decolonial struggle and revolutions), the are fantastic stories told by interviewed former crew of ICAIC. Important both for thinking about politicla history and for knowing the history of cinema.

Portuguese-language cinema, spanning Portugal, Brazil, and other Lusophone regions, focuses on history, cultural identity, and the struggles of ordinary people, often framed with poetic or allegorical storytelling. In Portugal, cinema has emphasized meditative pacing and philosophical depth, reflecting on memory and tradition. In Brazil, it has often been politically charged and socially vibrant, highlighting inequality and resilience while experimenting with popular and avant-garde forms.

Alexandre Rodrigues in City of God (2002)

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Through the files of Cuban cinema news program Noticieros ICAIC Latinoamericanos, the documentary shows the most relevant events of the second half of the 20th century as seen by the documentary filmmakers of the island. During three decades and under the general direction of Santiago Álvarez, these moviemakers witnessed almost everything: from the shivers of the Cold War to Bola de Nieve's piano solos; from the discovery of the killing fields in Cambodia to the Carnation Revolution in Portugal. In 2009, the original negatives of Noticieros ICAIC Latinoamericanos were declared part of the "world memory" by UNESCO.

Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC)

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Memória Cubana

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