REVIEW OF SELECTED AM DOCS FILM
for a revolutionary soldier, as he calls himself
a world leader that defiantly outlasted 9 US administrations
and certainly one of the most controversial figures of
the 20th century and the last 50 years
fidel castro seems like just somebodies proud papa
that feels he has done everything he could for his people
today was oliver stone's world premiere of castro in winter
the forth in a series of interviews he conducted with
the former leader of cuba, this, the last was filmed in 2009
after castro handed over control of the government
to his younger brother, raul
raul is 80 and some say tougher than his big brother
fidel is 85
in the film, fidel spoke freely about latin american politics
terrorism, the fall of the soviet union and president obama
when asked by stone - who killed kennedy...
without a skip, castro said that it was the mafia
later elaborating there was more to that, including the cia
castro said he felt alone when the soviet system failed
he's called himself a communist, or a socialist
but he modeled his revolution on the teachings of karl marx
to watch this man, in his sweat suit, comfortable in his home
surrounded by his wife and some children and friends
- he's nothing like what the world has been told about him
stone remarks how he still has that spark in his eyes
fidel said that he would still be running things if he could
- he temporarily turned over power before major surgery
to his brother a few years ago, now he says that
he just physically couldn't handle the riggers of power
but that his mind, pointing toward his temple, is still there
he proves it by the way he grasps current geopolitical affairs
oliver stone continues to get the interviews of the century
reliving this dictator's 50 year rule in this intimate way
- him speaking off the cuff, unscripted and humble
mixed with news clips from his rise to power through now
made this film very powerful and very moving and could
just could, bring a little tear to your eye
if you have a heart
THE AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL CONTINUES THROUGH THURSDAY AT THE
CAMELOT THEATERS IN PALM SPRINGS UPSTAIRS THERE'S COCKTAILS - COCKTAILS