Brezhnev Visits Cuba

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Description: State visit to Cuba by President Brezhnev, including some archive material of Cuban life under Batista.
Duration: 57 mins 37 secs
Year: 1974
Subjects: Cuba, Revolutions, Alliances, Social change, Communism, USSR, Guerilla activities, Development aid, Heads of state, Cultural interaction
Segment 1: January 28th 1974, Moscow Airport. Brezhnev leaves for Cuba on a IL62 plane. Title. Footage of Cuban scenery, towns and people. Narrator gives a brief history of Cuba and its people and a geo-cultural description of the country and its environments and people. Focus on Havana's preparation for the arrival of Brezhnev and promotion of Soviet Union in Cuba. Cubans describe their anticipation about the arrival of Brezhnev and the strengthening of Soviet-Cuban links. Streets leading to airport are lined with crowds. Brezhnev arrives at Jose Maria Airport and is met by Fidel Castro. Other delegates from both the USSR and Cuba are present. Cuban and Soviet flags. Playing of national anthems. Military display by guard of honour including Cuban infantry, airforce and navy. Brezhnev's motorcade passes through street lined with crowds. Narrator describes Soviet-Cuban friendship.
Segment 2: Brezhnev's arrival coincides with the birthday of Cuba's national hero Jose Marti. In Jose Marti Revolution Square Brezhnev pays tribute. Shots of Cuban political offices in Havana. Brezhnev and Castro begin discussions attended by other delegates to discuss bilateral issues. Mass rally in Cuba's main square. Castro and Brezhnev address crowd with Brezhnev shouting 'Viva Cuba!' Castro gives speech praising the Soviet Union and the significance of Cuban-Soviet solidarity. Archive footage of Cuba before the revolution: slums and poor living conditions, foreign monopoly of Cuba's natural resources and industry. Social inequality. Castro, Che Guevara and their troops begin a guerrilla campaign against Batista. Troops enter Havana welcomed by jubilant crowds. Rebuilding work, nationalisation of banks and industries, emancipation of peasants, cheering crowds.
Segment 3: Montage of newspaper articles with reports on the revolution in Cuba. Counter revolutionaries attempt to defeat the revolutionary army. Capture of counter revolutionaries. Other Communist countries assist Cuba. Further extracts from Castro's speech with emphasis on peace policies and stopping the arms race. Brezhnev then addresses the crowd thanking Castro for his praises and thanking the Cubans for their friendship. He continues to speak of Cuba's geopolitical importance as the only Communist nation in the Western Hemisphere and pays tribute to the leaders of the revolution. He also speaks of the growth of communism across the world and the aim of nations to live in peaceful coexistence. Brezhnev and Castro embrace each other. The crowd sings the Cuban national anthem. A large portrait of Brezhnev overlooks the square where the crowd are gathered.
Segment 4: Industrial development in Cuba. Soviet assistance in development programmes and industrial co-operation. Factory workers speak of their delight at Brezhnev's visit and their hope for the continuation of good Soviet-Cuban relations. Sugar farming becomes mechanised through with Soviet machinery. Industrial co-operation in all area. Order of Jose Marti given to Brezhnev. Brezhnev gives speech celebrating Soviet-Cuban relations.
Segment 5: Development in education and literacy programme launched. Sports facilities in schools. January 31st, Soviet visitors arrive for official opening of school to the south of Havana. Brezhnev and Castro meet pupils, inspect classrooms, labs, workshops and sports facilities. Castro addresses school assembly speaking of Cuban education system, policies and develops. Brezhnev addresses school congregation speaking of the communist qualities that should be adopted by the young. Unveiling of portrait of Lenin as gift from Brezhnev to school. Student performance with traditional music and dance. Fireworks display.
Segment 6: Tour of Havana. Motorcade travels through crowd-lined streets. A barracks liberated in the revolution has now been transformed into a school. Brezhnev and Castro receive honorary 'Pioneer Banners' from school children. Tour inside the 26 July Museum that celebrates the revolution. Archive footage of the storming of the barracks. Brezhnev and Castro continue their tour of the museum, Castro explaining the exhibits. On departure, Cubans re-enact scenes from Cuban history. Castro and Brezhnev visit a house that was used as a base by Castro during the revolutionary movement. Archive footage of Castro and troops in early campaigns. Brezhnev recalls Soviet battles in the past with archive footage and photographs of battle and of Brezhnev. Soviet delegates visit bus plant. Visit to Cuban-Soviet friendship association. Castro with Soviet delegates and Brezhnev: bilateral fraternal ties and international issues. Castro and Brezhnev sign Cuban-Soviet declaration of co-operation. Brezhnev presents Castro with a bust of Lenin. Brezhnev leaves Cuba. Crowds cheer Brezhnev and Castro. Brezhnev and Castro embrace each other. Brezhnev boards plane and departs.
Persistent URL: http://edina.ac.uk/purl/isan/0002-0000-0061-0000-0-0000-0000-0
Written and compiled by the British Universities Film & Video Council © BUFVC 2005
Subject classification by University of Edinburgh Library © 2006