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As a follow-up to "Comandante," his previous documentary film on Castro and Cuba, Oliver Stone returned to Cuba in May 2003 to interview Castro again and ask pointed questions over many hours of conversations. In Castro's interview, Stone compels Castro to respond to questions that the Cuban leader had avoided.
LOOKING FOR FIDEL includes fascinating conversations between Stone and Castro about Cuban politics, human rights, and Cuba's future. Stone's unprecedented encounter with this highly controversial world leader provides a rare picture of Fidel Castro and illuminates his views on Cuba's unique position in the world.
Castro sees Cuba as being in an ongoing "war" with the United States -- of nerves, propaganda, provocations and threats -- and asserts that dissidents are funded and directed by the U.S. government. And at a time when terrorism is a worldwide preoccupation, he makes no apologies for dealing harshly with hijackers, whom he believes are incited by the United States, even though the government's actions were condemned worldwide, further isolating Cuba and increasing its sense of siege.
LOOKING FOR FIDEL gives voice to all the major players, as Stone interviews not only Castro, but prisoners accused of hijacking, leading dissidents, wives of prisoners and human rights advocates, all of whom express their views forcefully in the emotionally charged environment that is Cuba today. In one extraordinary roundtable, Stone brings together Castro, several accused hijackers, prosecutors and defense attorneys for a conversation that is both provocative and compelling.
In addition, Castro seeks to address the ongoing rumors over the state of his health by allowing Stone's cameras to show him lying on a clinic's examining table, chest exposed with sensors attached, while doctors measure his heart rate, pulse and other vital signs.
The executive producers of LOOKING FOR FIDEL are Alvaro Longoria & Fernando Sulichin; produced by Fernando Sulichin and Alvaro Longoria; directed by Oliver Stone; line producer, Cristina Zumárraga; directors of photography, Rodrigo Prieto & Carlos Marcovich; edited by Alex Marquez and Langdon Page; music by Mastretta. For HBO: supervising producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
Academy Award® and Oscar® are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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