There are many documentaries on Cuba covering topics such as the music, food, politics, and people of the island nation. Many of the films are well-made, well-researched and worked on by highly regarded directors and crew.
Not all the documentaries make it to network TV or to theaters, but they are worth seeking out to get a view on a very diverse country. Here are four of them:
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1. Havana Suite
This film, directed and written by Fernando Perez, follows 10 ordinary Cuban people in one day of their lives around the capital city of Havana. Made by a Spanish film company, there is little dialogue as the documentary uses only sounds and music to accompany the storyline. From dawn to dusk, the camera follows the people and gives first-hand views of the life in Havana. The documentary won 20 awards at film festivals throughout the world.
2. Yank Tanks
This 2002 film of about 70 minutes in length by filmmaker David Schendel tells the story of the classic American cars that are still in use in Cuba today. Like a 1950s time warp, the proud owners drive the huge cars around the streets of Havana and look after them like precious pieces from a museum. This documentary is a must for lovers of classic cars and for those who want a glimpse of life in modern Cuba.
3. Bye Bye Havana
This documentary, made in 2004, tries to capture the current life in Havana and shows how much the city has suffered under the Castro regime since 1958. The once grand city of colonial architecture is a crumbling mess and the film laments the way Havana is today. Made by J. Michael Seyfert, the documentary is worth seeing for the footage alone.
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4. Havana Curveball
This 2014 film made by top documentary directors Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider follows 13-year-old Mica as he attempts to send baseballs to Cuba against the U.S. imposed embargo. The boy is trying to fulfil his Rabbi’s words of "trying to heal the world," knowing that Cubans love baseball and are in need of equipment. This documentary is a must for lovers of baseball and inspirational stories, as this hour-long movie captures the ironies of the U.S. embargo.
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