Memories of Underdevelopment

Toms Gutirrez Aleas Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) is a classic of Cuban revolutionary culture, and is hailed as a prime example of a radical style of 1960s political filmmaking that became known worldwide as Latin American new cinema. Darlene J. Sadliers detailed study approaches this much-written-about film from a new perspective. Her analysis situates the film in its historical context, considering how Cuban political history affected and informed the production of the film, particularly its use of archival footage. She discusses the film as an adaptation of Edmundo Desnoess novel Memorias del subdesarrollo (1965), exploring how the novel itself is re-written in significant ways by the film. Sadlier goes on to analyse the curious opening of the film on an outdoor scene of Afro-Cubans dancing to the new music of Pello del Afrokn, arguing that this opening scene prefaces the films exploration of both class and race. She focuses on the unique style of the film, particularly the use of voiceover, music and documentary footage to show how the themes of ennui, isolation, writing, and remembering are depicted. In doing so, she highlights the films lasting impact and its role in defining Latin American new cinema.