15/02/2003 - American director’s first-ever documentary about the Cuban Leader has been presented in Berlin

Look also the video-interview of Oliver Stone

Fidel Castro’s favourite actors? Sophia Loren and Gérard Depardieu. Only an intelligent, courageous and controversial filmmaker like Oliver Stone could portray the Cuban Leader, in a dispassionate and sincere look at a fading legend. Commander, the American director’s first-ever documentary, got a warm reception from the audience at the screening in the Panorama Dokumente section. The film was produced by Spain’s Fernando Sulichin for Mediapro together with Pentagram Films and Morena .
“I first met Fidel in 1989/87 and was fascinated by his philosophy and by his life style and by the man himself, of course,” reveals the director. “Not long ago a couple of Spanish producers contacted me and asked me to make a film about Castro. We arranged a meeting with Castro in Cuba, when I showed him four pages of the film I intended making about him. I think I succeeded in putting across his strong moral fibre, and his commitment and dedication to spreading his ideas. I also ensured he was comfortable and relaxed in front of the film camera. We worked together for three days and shot a total of 30 hours’ worth of footage. Fidel was the star, I just tried to draw out all the man’s considerable strength and put it into the film.”

(Translated from Italian)