Few films look like I Am Cuba (1964). Shot by Sergey Urusevsky, the Soviet–Cuban production used infrared film stock to give tropical landscapes a surreal, shimmering quality: palm leaves glow white, skies turn deep black. The effect is eerie, almost dreamlike, and unlike anything else in narrative cinema of the time.
Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, the film tells four stories of revolution in Cuba, but its lasting impact lies in its visual experimentation. The combination of infrared, hand-held camerawork, and long, unbroken takes makes it a landmark of both propaganda and film art.
The restored version is currently on YouTube:
