oaxaca_de_chavez The movie shows how president Fidel Castro fought the injustice of a dictator that oppressed an entire country. In a story that closely resembles the true story of the Cuban revolutionary, "Fidel" shows how the people of Cuba could no longer tolerate the insults of their government and the foreign countries that took advantage of the corruption to make a few extra books at the expense of the country of Cuba. The movie starts with a simple yet important example of the way the country's ideology was treated by their guests.I think for the most part this is a good movie that projects the unwillingness of a country to continue to be treated like slaves.

camselle This film is as if aliens who know or care nothing about either leftist or rightist politics came from another planet and catalogued Fidel's rise to power in Cuba. It very objectively chronicles the good and bad about the regime and pulls no punches.Undoubtedly, there is a considerable amount more bad than good about Castro (note: to those of you whose demonize Pinochet, Castro was worse) but we get the point just the same without having to catharticly dwell on the killed, tortured, exiled, and imprisoned souls of Cuba. Just gives us the facts... nice one.

aespi50722 The movie narrates with historical accuracy the birth of the Cuban revolution. The movie also scrutinizes without taking sides, the aims that Fidel Castro strived for his people as well as the diverse events that influenced the radicalism of the revolution after this was won. So at the beginning we see Castro's idealism blossoming at the Sierra Maestra and later on being implemented in the form of urban reform, agrarian reform and new clinics and schools for the poor. Later, we contemplate with dismay the excesses of the revolution with Che Guevara and Raul Castro practically in control. And finally, we see a Fidel Castro obsessed with the revolution to the extreme of losing touch with his people's aspirations. A well done, well acted movie that deserves high marks.

fkerr Some TV productions of late have been fantastic, and many are duds. `¡Fidel!' is interesting for content but disappointing in production. Huggo Martin has good moments in the title role, but mostly he walks through the lines without imparting believability to them. Other cast members do the same. Of course, Fidel Castro is a fascinating character. Viewing this film does flesh out a Yankee's knowledge of his life. Yet, so much remains unanswered. The first segment portrays him as an idealistic leader of the justified overthrow of General Batista. His failures seem somehow related to lack of realistic planning, but he triumphs in the end at least in part by his reliance on subordinates. Then, the second segment takes us to the Castro government in power. Here, we see a megalomaniac who makes his own decisions regardless of reality or the opinions of others. He sells out his revolution out to the Soviets for no apparent reason other than his hate for the U. S. The regime becomes a disaster for the Cuban people. The film makes no effort to explain the abrupt change. Is it just the taste of power, or is there an illness within Castro's mind? Were we deceived at first? Castro and the Che Guevara character often throw allegations toward the CIA, but all of that is also left vague. A viewer interested in the subject here can only come away terribly unsatisfied.