Peel the Onion | The Cuba Libre Story Netflix Review (Part I)

By J.B.Browne

Homeland or Death

As world leaders met at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly last week, various platforms replayed clips of Che Guevara's historic speech at the Assembly 57 years ago. There he denounced worldwide US intervention, calling for resistance against imperialism.

"Homeland or Death!" he cried. The words boomed impactfully against the wooden slats of the assembly hall, echoing endlessly in the left and right channels of our collective consciousness. Why did he say it; what did it mean; most of all, why does his beret-capped face continue to adorn countless students' walls and T-shirts more than 50 years after his death.

Che was, is, and remains a socialist icon for Global South countries, often at the mercy of outrageous Global North financial markets and interests. In Guerrillero Heroico, Che carries the youthful weight of emotion, the struggles of which pierce through his horizonal gaze. It's an intense look that beams with passion. Perhaps, that's why it connects. But there's more. Despite becoming one of the most reproduced photos of all time, Che's image and symbolism have become grossly commodified to the extent where his cause is often entirely presented without context.

Like many others, my cursory knowledge of Che and Cuba accumulated slowly over time through small porous cultural openings, oozing randomly into a completely decontextualized worldview. I first saw Che's t-shirted face drifting in the wind in a market stall in Europe. After that, I discovered the delights of Cuban music through the Buena Vista Social Club LP. At school, we learned about Cuba's precarious Cold War role during the Cuban missile crisis. We learned about communism and how bad it was. We learned about Fidel Castro and Che and how both, alongside a ragtag band of young rebels, driven by an idea, could stage a revolution to change the fate of Cuba forever. But that's about it. We're taught about Che and Castro, but we're never taught their cause. And if we were, would we see Cuban news coverage differently?

I wanted to find out more, and to my surprise, Netflix of all places is streaming The Cuba Libre Story – a docuseries recounting Cuba's tumultuous history and past. I decided to watch it after seeing more anti-Cuba coverage in mainstream media. I know better to conclude that it's not likely to be balanced when a hot topic is in anglosphere-media overdrive. Instead, it's like an overreaching arm grabbing you with controlled narrative reinforcement of particular worldviews. Would this be like other Netflix documentary-style films? You know, the ones that feature graphic historical footage about "bad guys" in "bad countries" — singular documentaries about non-aligned, targeted states, featuring cold, unflattering depictions of its people as racial stereotypes in need of superior western values? You know the ones. Would Cuba and Cubans meet the same fate with The Cuba Libre Story?

Click on Part II to find out.

As he would refer himself, J.B. Browne is a half "foreign devil" living with anxiety relieved by purchase. HK-born Writer/Musician/Tinkerer.

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