i netflixed "fidel" by estela bravo. it's all about fidel castro's rise to power and the history of cuba with this in mind. but mostly it's about fidel as you can tell by the title. it was a good documentary. by that i mean that i was always watching, never bored. i learned a few things too. the film has footage and interview clips with all sorts of people. from cubans to americans. it covers those who know fidel and those who are in the position of criticism. and yet, where is the criticism in the film? it paints fidel in such a good light that i would almost call it saintly. it makes you wonder what's left behind. cuba's struggles, especially when communist russia collapsed, is seemingly glossed over with lines about how fidel then had to micromanage cuba and create news means for the economy to continue. but this is not a film about the economics of cuba so we can forgive that.

still though, what of the other side of cuba? what of the other side of fidel? i am not interested in demonizing fidel, communism, or cuba. in fact i'm quite for socialism. but i'm extremely wary of anyone who's been in power for so long. (dictator) it raises many questions about the freedoms and democratic processes the people are privy to. also, how can you trust someone who dresses in military garb constantly? (just think of all the leaders of countries who wear military garb. think hard. what kind of country is it? what is the quality of life for the people? what freedoms do they have? do they not have?) is it more symbolic for fidel to wear fatigues? a sign that the revolution is not yet over? that there are still many more things that must be accomplished? i could understand that but the revolution that created the overthrow of the old government and put the new people in power was a long time ago. i think it's time to dump the military clothes unless you're actually serving in the military. again, perhaps these are not questions that could be addressed in the realm of the documentary.

as for fidel and symbolism, i found the interview he gave with mike wallace shortly after coming into power to be quite interesting. "when we have fulfilled our promise of good government, i will cut my beard." well, he hasn't done that either. so the promise of cuba is not yet fullfilled. then there's the issue of dictators and ego. if you think of dictators around the world and oppressive regimes, you think of all the symbolism. but what symbolism and effigies are there of fidel in cuba? wikipedia reports that his image and name are nowhere to be found in the buildings, streets, and currency. rather, it seems that che serves that purpose as i noticed his portrait a few times in the film on buildings and such. plus i believe there's a medical school in cuba named after him. if fidel is a egoist dictator with a desire not to appear so, perhaps then all this was done on purpose so no one could accuse him of such.

regardless of all that i have mentioned up to this point, cuba and fidel are fascinating case studies of modern politics. as a person has mentioned in the film and along the lines of something i have often said, why does this embargo continue when we have made up with our other former enemies? we trade with the axis nations but not with cuba? what is going on there? and if i talk like this i must also mention that world war 2 ended in 1945. how long will our bases in foreign lands that were created as a result of that war continue to exist. let's make a pact my fellow americans to dismantle them before we reach the 100 year anniversary of that war. the cold war is over. the cuban missile crisis is over. communist reform has won in cuba and will continue to exist. stop bitching like crying children and work towards peace and friendship. do not continue to cry about spilled (soy) milk. seriously, the whole thing is a bunch of screaming children. meanwhile fidel has made friends with our friends? doesn't america love nelson mandela? well nelson mandela loves fidel. get over it.