Original subtitles

I AM CUBA

A joint production of ICAIC (CUBA) and the film studios Mosfilm (USSR).

Script by Yevgeny Yevtushenko Enrique Pineda Barnet

Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov

Camera director: Sergei Urusevsky

Production director: Yevgeny Svidetelev

Music by: Carlos Fariñas

Sound: V. Sharun

Camera operators:

A. Kaltzatti B. Brozhovsky

Cast:

Sergio Corrieri Salvador Vud

José Gallardo Raúl García

Luz María Collazo Jean Bouise

Alberto Morgan Celia Rodríguez

Fausto Mirabel Roberto García York

María de las Mercedes Díez Bárbara Domínguez

Jesús del Monte Luisa María Jiménez

Mario González Tony López

Héctor Castañeda Rosando Lamadris

Cuba's voice: Raquel Revuelta

The film studios Mosfilm and ICAIC thank the insurgent army,

the people's militia,

the Cuban Ministry of Interior Affairs and Academy of Sciences,

and also those who gave help in the creation of this film.

I am Cuba.

Once, Christopher Columbus landed here.

He wrote in his diary:

"This is the most beautiful land ever seen by human eyes."

Thank you, Señor Columbus.

When you saw me for the first time,

I was singing and laughing.

I waved the fronds of my palms to greet your sails.

I thought your ships brought happiness.

I am Cuba.

Ships took my sugar,

and left me tears.

Strange thing, sugar, Señor Columbus.

It contains so many tears,

but it is sweet...

And now, ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment of truth.

We ask you to give a big hand to our beauties.

Ladies and gentlemen, louder! Another big hand!

Louder! Louder! Ladies and gentlemen!

Crazy love

Crazy love

This crazy love

In my blood

She loves me

I can't live anymore without your love

Crazy love

This crazy love

The love of my life

I can't live anymore without your love

It's crazy love

that my heart

feels for you

Take, take, take all my love

My sweet little love

How rich

I can't live anymore without your love

Crazy love

I am...

I am...

Love crazy

crazy

I am crazy for your love.

Crazy love

Love crazy

Crazy is the love I feel for you

Crazy, crazy, crazy for your love.

Crazy, crazy, for your love...

- Good morning, René. - How are you, Señora?

So, so... This heat.

Thank you!

Oranges,

white pineapples,

California plums,

nice juicy pears. Cheap.

How's business, René?

- Fine. How are you doing? - You've come to keep him company?

Got any fruit for me?

I do... The best.

You see, this is what I was telling you about.

I think I'm gonna become a fruit seller, too.

- Well, see you later. - Okay, man, see you.

- Who was that? - Regular customers.

I'm afraid, René.

You don't have to be afraid of anything.

Look!

Look. We're going to be married in that church.

And you'll be wearing a white dress.

A white dress.

You've never kissed anyone?

I'll bring you fruit every day at your job.

How come you don't tell me where you work?

Too bad I don't sell flowers.

All, all, all my flowers,

all my flowers I'd give to you.

I love you, Maria.

Betty!

Betty...

Boys, I'd like you to meet Betty.

- Interesting... - Interesting?

No, it's not interesting, Señor.

I am Cuba.

Why are you running away?

You came here to have fun?

Go ahead, have fun!

Is this a happy picture?

Don't avert your eyes.

Look!

I am Cuba.

For you, I am the casino...

the bar, the hotels.

But the hands of these children and old people

are also me.

I hoped and prayed that it would rain for you, cane.

I've helped you.

Now you help me.

Grow tall, taller than me.

I used to think...

the worst in life was death.

Now I know better.

The worst is life.

I am so frightened for my children.

All my life I've worked,

and all that time, I've lived in debt.

Grow tall, sugarcane.

Not for me.

For them.

You hear me?

Grow tall.

Papa, it's Señor Acosta.

Papa, Señor Acosta!

Busy working?

Yeah, working.

Well, soon you'll be able to take a little rest.

I've sold these lands to the United...

I've sold these lands to the United Fruit Company.

What about my sugarcane?

You raised it on my land.

But I worked it with my own sweat.

I give that sweat to you, as a gift.

What about my house?

Your house isn't your house anymore.

Have you forgotten this?

You can't forge a signature like that.

Let's go.

No, you can't forge a signature like that.

Pedro...

your house isn't yours anymore.

Your house isn't yours anymore.

I've sold these lands to United Fruit.

I've sold these lands to United Fruit.

You grew your sugarcane on my land.

Your house isn't yours anymore...

Why did they come, Papa?

What happened?

Nothing important.

Why are you standing there like a stick?

We need to get back to work!

Papa, are you tired?

Papa, are you tired?

I'm not tired.

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

I'm not tired!

Today's been a good day.

Wonderful!

You can go to the village today.

- Today? - Today.

Have some fun, listen to some music.

Really, Papa, really?

And you?

I'm too old.

Music was made for the young.

You're not old, Papa, not at all!

Go on.

Here, take this, Pablo.

But this is your last peso, Papa.

Today it's the last one, but soon we'll have lots of money.

What are you waiting for?

Don't you see how much money there is here?

Don't you see how much money there is here?

Don't you see how much money there is here?

- Give us two Coca-Colas. - Two Coca-Colas.

Give me some money.

Let's go my guajira let's go to Havana

Let's go my guajira let's go to the city

I like parties, rooster fights, my hammock and my shack

I like the curve of your waist

Pablo, come here!

I like the way your hips move, my sweet.

Let's go my guajira let's go to Havana

Let's go my guajira let's go to the city

The sway of your hips has the wonderful flavor of ripe fruit

So does the twist of your body

Prepare the saddle and mount the rhythm

Beat the drums

Look over there, Pancho. Aren't those old Pedro's children?

Looks as if their business is doing well.

Beat the drums

Swing that body

Watch her move...

It's the greatest

Move your feet

I am Cuba.

Sometimes it seems that the sap of my palm trees

is full of blood.

Sometimes it seems to me that the murmuring sounds

around us are not the ocean,

but choked-back tears of the people.

Who answers for this blood?

Who is responsible for these tears?

The General Fulgencio Batista,

Honorable President of the Republic,

receives an award...

I'm going to stop.

Let's go our own way here.

- See you tomorrow. - Tomorrow.

Hold on.

What?

I was thinking...

Maybe it's better not to spend the night at home.

Okay.

They didn't hurt you?

Calm down...

It's all over.

Hey, what's your name?

Gloria.

All right, Gloria, they're gone.

Calm down.

- And you, what's your name? - Enrique.

- What? - En - ri - que.

Thank you, Enrique.

Extra! Extra! The latest news!

Fidel Castro and all those with him

killed in the Oriente Province!

- Give me one. - Castro killed...!

Extra! The latest news!

Stop at the university.

They killed Fidel Castro! They killed him!

Here, it's in the paper. And all those with him.

- Where's Alberto? - Over there.

Alberto...

Look, Castro's been killed!

It's a lie, Enrique. Here's what we need to do.

We have to let all Havana know that it's a lie. Write...

Fidel Castro is alive.

He and his comrades

have landed in the Oriente Province...

Careful.

And have begun the struggle.

Write this down...

Batista is spreading the rumor

that Fidel is dead to confuse the people.

Fidel is in the Sierra Maestra.

He's gathering all honest people under the banner of the revolution.

They've killed Juan, Carlos and Luis.

Every time you read it, it's worse.

We're just going to sit on our hands?

No, Enrique, we're not going to sit on our hands.

But that fat murderer keeps killing our comrades.

- Everything's planned. - We're ready, but it's not time.

Why not?

If we kill this one, they'll replace him with another.

We'll kill that one, too!

That's how we're going to spend the rest of our lives?

- No way. - Right.

What will killing one man accomplish?

They'll just put another one in his place, only worse.

And he'll keep on killing our comrades!

We can't confuse one man with a system.

But people create the system!

True, but we have to struggle against the system,

not against one man, more or less important.

Yes, I understand. But this isn't a human being. He's a murderer!

This murderer is killing our comrades.

Don't you think I want to kill him, too?

But they have landed successfully.

Fidel is alive. That's the most important.

Wait...

There's a new struggle coming, and we must help.

People have to understand.

I know, but what we do with this murderer

is just as important.

Let's decide.

We can't decide that now. Later.

When? When?

Raise the question at the group meeting...

But we're not going to decide now. Understand, not now!

Alberto...

- They killed Pepe last night. - Pepe?

What are we going to do about this?

I already told you. We'll discuss this later.

You want to come back

Perhaps you think of me

Perhaps you cry for me

Perhaps, but is that really you?

Now you beg for forgiveness

and you sing your song

with such melody

it tries to get me to forget your betrayal.

But now don't you understand

that it's taken you too long to come back

and I cannot forget that you made me cry

I won't be able to forgive you...

What's wrong with you? Look where you're going!

Are you asleep?

Are you crazy?

You didn't notice you were right under my wheels!

You idiot.

Imbecile!

Are you drunk? What is it? Answer me!

What's wrong?

This guy almost got me thrown in jail. What is he, crazy?

- He's just love-sick. - Leave him, let's go!

Be careful, Enrique.

Walking in the middle of the street!

- Don't be mad, old man. - Get him out of here!

Where to, Enrique?

What's up?

What's the matter?

Enrique, what's going on?

I couldn't do it.

He was having fried eggs for breakfast.

Fried eggs? What are you talking about?

Tell me!

He was with his kids. I couldn't.

Did you consider the consequences of this?

Who gave you permission to do this? Tell me who!

Shit!

Break it open!

Everybody stay where you are!

Search them!

Whose book is this?

Yours?

Who does this book belong to?

"The State and Revolution"

Whose?

- Whose book is this? - It's ours.

- Yours? - It's our book.

And anybody who hasn't read that book is an ignoramus.

Long live freedom! Long live the revolution!

Cubans! Fidel lives!

He's up in the Sierra Maestra with his comrades!

Fighting against Batista!

...Citizens...

Long live liberty!

Death to the tyrant!

Liberty or death!

Down with tyranny!

I am Cuba.

There are two paths for people when they are born.

The path of slavery that crushes and decays.

Or the path of the star that illuminates and kills.

You will choose the star.

Your path will be hard, and it will be marked by blood.

But wherever a man falls in the name of justice,

thousands more will rise up.

And when there are no more people,

then the stones will rise up.

I am Cuba.

When men are born, they have two paths...

You will choose the star...

The path will be hard,

and it will be marked by blood.

For the last time, clear the steps!

It's an order!

Run to the battle, fellow people of Bayamo

Your country looks at you with pride

Do not fear a glorious death

To die for your country is to live

To live enchained is to submit

to insult and ignominy

Hear the bugle sound

Prepare for battle, o' valiant ones! Onward!

Run to the battle, fellow people of Bayamo

Your country looks at you with pride

Do not fear a glorious death

To die for your country is to live...

Come on, guys!

All together, the cars!

Enrique!

Enrique!

Enrique!

Enrique!

Enrique! Enrique!

Where is Fidel?

Fidel?

I am Fidel.

- Where is Fidel? - I am Fidel.

I am Fidel.

I am Cuba.

These are the people about whom legends will be told.

From all parts, they are coming to the mountains of the Sierra Maestra.

They are coming to fight.

Come in and have a seat.

Amelia, bring another plate.

Do you need the rifle, too?

No.

These hands aren't for killing.

They're for sowing.

But is the land you're sowing yours?

Are you finished?

Don't you wish there was a school on your land?

Shoes for your kids?

That when they're sick, they'd be treated?

Or are they going to live the way you do?

I want to live in peace.

Me, too.

What about this?

This?

So as to live in peace.

Get out!

He's exhausted, Mariano. Let him stay the night.

Hear that?

Do you hear that, Mariano?

They're bombing the revolutionaries.

Amelia, calm down! Amelia, calm down!

Amelia! Amelia!

Listen, Mariano, listen!

Amelia, wait!

Amelia! Calm down, dear.

Amelia, Amelia!

Mariano, my child...

I have to go.

I have to go.

Halt!

Halt!

This is the insurgent Radio,

broadcasting from the mountains of Oriente Province...

from the Sierra Maestra, Free Territory of Cuba.

This is the insurgent Radio...

Cubans, join the struggle.

You, victim of humiliation, hatred and crime.

You have borne on your shoulders injustice,

destitution, and the deprivation of your rights.

Listen to this vibrant call to arms!

Revolution!

Revolution!

Faced with the hostile malice, you, peasant...

You, worker...

You, student...

You, Cuban!

Raise your arms!

The revolution is fighting for the complete and absolute

national independence of our country.

The revolution fights

for the right of everyone to get an education,

so everyone has equal opportunities to study.

For the defense of life given to each of us...

To defend the people's well-being, we fight!

Each family has the right to adequate housing.

Each Cuban has the right to work.

Thousands of heads of families and young people are jobless.

They have no future.

The revolution will industrialize the country.

It will eliminate unemployment and will restore to the people

all the wealth that was stolen from them.

You, farmer...

You, worker...

You, student...

Take your place in the struggle.

This is your revolution!

Liberty or death!

I knew you would come.

I knew it.

Now I need a rifle.

A rifle?

This guy thinks they grow on trees!

Plant some. Maybe more will grow.

Look, Mariano.

You have to capture a rifle in battle.

Every one of us has done it that way.

I am Cuba.

Your hands have gotten used to farming tools, Mariano.

But now a rifle is in your hands.

You are not shooting to kill.

You are firing at the past.

You are firing to protect your future.

The End