VIDEO: CASTRO

Informationclearinghouse: OLIVER STONE'S COMANDANTE

In February 2002, acclaimed director Oliver Stone traveled to Havana to meet with Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. Over the course of three days, the two men engaged in a series of frank conversations, which culminated, months later, in the film Comandante

In an interview with the London Times, Oliver Stone noted that directing Comandante - his first documentary film - has given him a welcome break from movie-making.

?I was tired of movies because they?re so big, expensive and artificial...and also the digital aspect was so important. It was great to take up the camera and feel it out and feel the freedom.?

The project began when Fernando Sulichan, a Spanish producer, offered Stone a chance to interview Fidel Castro for Spanish TV.

The Cuban leader had agreed to the interview under the condition that he could stop filming at any moment. The production team taped over 30 hours of interviews and Castro never exercised his power to stop the cameras.

Over the three days, Stone films Castro working at his office, touring a medical school and a museum, and follows him through the streets where he mingles freely with Cuban citizens.

In an interview with the BBC, Stone talked about his thoughts on Castro.

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