Cuba and the Cameraman is a 2017 American documentary film directed by Jon Alpert that chronicles life in Cuba over 45 years, from the early 1970s through the 1990s and up to the death of Fidel Castro in 2016. The film is based on many hours of footage Alpert shot during his repeated visits to Cuba, offering an intimate and ground-level portrait of Cuban society through the experiences of three families living in Havana and the countryside.
The documentary captures the initial optimism of the Cuban Revolution, showing vibrant social programs and everyday life in the 1970s, as well as the hardships following the collapse of Soviet support in the 1990s, including food shortages and economic struggles. It also features Alpert’s personal relationships with Cubans such as farmers and city residents – including his unique access to Fidel Castro himself – providing a humanistic view of their resilience and challenges.
Overall, Cuba and the Cameraman is a captivating and emotionally resonant documentary that offers a deeply personal, decades-long perspective on Cuban life, politics and the quotidian struggles of the nation and its people. Through the lens of a filmmaker who demonstrates a profound sense of empathy and curiosity, the documentary provides a genuine connection with the individuals it chronicles.
