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Fidel | Year: 2002 Classification: Drama Directed: - David Attwood Great portrait This is the first movie I see where Castro is portrayed as what he truly is, a tyrant. It happens that I know someone who knows Castro first hand; his descriptions of Castro's outbursts matches the movie's portray of his dealing with ministers. The movie also describes quite accurately some important moments of the "revolution", the so called "el cordon de la Habana", "la zafra del 70" and other Castro monumental economic failures. All based on his direct top-down command style, absolute ignorance of agriculture practices, economics and his refusal to acknowledge human nature. Coffee trees do not grow in plain fields even if commanded by Castro, they are not cuban citizens and therefore, they are inmune to Castro's wrath. I was also quite impressed by the portray of Che Guevara, an inept doctor who ruined the Cuban economy and did not hesitate in sending thousands of people to firing squads without trial. This movie is probably the first that dares to portray him as what he was. Somehow Che has been elevated to some kind of hero by people who did not know him or lived under his rule. It has become almost a sacriley to say anything that may "offend" his memmory. Fortually for the rest of the world, the commander who lead his capture was a Cuban, he knew what happened when Castro was captured in 1956, after attacking an Army garrision, sentenced to 12 years in prison and then released after two. He did not hesitate in ordering Che's killing. We have a say in spanish "muerto el perro se acaba la rabia" ("dead the dog, no rabies"). The movie closes with a couple of Castro statements that I clearly remember and that reflect his absolutist nature..."if one day I am told that 1008f the population does not support the revolution, I would keep going..." Thanks to the producers, actors and director. Been There, Done That Then that happened, then that happened, then that happened.... Anyone with a passable knowledge of Castro and the Cuban Revolution will realize that "Fidel" is little more than a dramatic chronicle of the most familiar episodes of Castro's life. The film is nearly a cliché. Add that the film is a three hours plus long and the acting is mediocre at best, the resulting sense of chore viewers experience is predictable. Yet with all the time the movie allots itself (and sentences the viewer to), time, in places, is oddly prioritized. The Cuban missile crisis was a blip in history apparently. Oh, there's more. There is the dissonance in film's perspective about Castro himself. The film doesn't suggest that Castro is a multifaceted, complicated character. Rather, the film takes a sudden and unpredictable shift in its point of view. Actually, the shift resembles a conversion. Castro goes from a visionary and precocious revolutionary leader to--presto!--the failed tyrant we know from the news and White House press briefings. I'm sure the conversion saved the film from the charge of pro-Castro ... that is all too familiar when anything the least bit laudatory about Castro or post-revolutionary Cuba is depicted. But, then, that's how propaganda works here. awesome This movie from start to end is very good, except some parts went to fast. I felt like that I was there in the movie. For the most part, it had actual events and the storyline is almost accurate. The actor for che guevara should have been more of hero then what he protrays in the movie. I would watch it again many times over. Buy Fidel at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Fidel Search with the Priority Search Engine on Fidel This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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