98% of recent visitors felt safe while at the Barbican. Here’s what you need to know ahead of your visit. Find out more

Memories of Underdevelopment (15)

John Akomfrah Presents...

,Barbican Cinema 2
Still from Memories of Underdevelopment

This landmark political film shows Cuba at a critical moment in its history, and offers an insightful reflection on what it’s like to be an outsider at a time of change.

Set in 1961, the film unfolds between the exodus after the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion and the missile crisis of the following year. Sergio, a wealthy man, stays behind while the rest of his family leaves for the States. Sceptical of the promises of a new Cuba, he feels alone in a brave new world, unable either to leave or to come to terms with the changes happening around him.

The film leaves us to ponder who or what is “undeveloped” in the scenario it presents: Sergio himself, as citizen and human being, or the state of the nation in the aftermath of the Batista regime? It was the subtlety and sophistication of its political analysis – exceptional in a product of Cuba’s state-sponsored film industry of the time – plus its stylistic virtuosity which led this film to become the first from post-revolutionary Cuba to gain widespread international acclaim. 

“A clever film that may be provocatively political . . . but still has an infectious sense of fun and creative joy.” Film4 

Tagged with: Cinema John Akomfrah Presents...

Cuba 1968 Dir Tomás Gutiérrez Alea 104 min Digital presentation 

Restored by the Cineteca di Bologna at L' Immagine Ritrovata laboratory in association with Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematograficos (ICAIC). Restoration funded by the George Lucas Family Foundation and The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project

 

Please arrive promptly at the advertised start time

Proof of ID may be requested on entry to films, in compliance with BBFC ratings

Discover

a group of men playing cuban music somewhere in cuba

Listen: Cuban Music on Spotify

Follow our regularly updated Cuban Music playlist for a sample of the music you'll hear across our programme. 

photo for barbican spotify

Listen: Downtown NYC on Spotify

Go back in time to 80s New York with our Spotify playlist featuring a small selection of tracks from those involved the downtown scene.

Photo of Barbican Cinema red seats

Podcast: Cinema

Subscribe to our fortnightly podcast for interviews and discussion about our film programme, from the iconic to the independent, art-house to the award-winning - plus our incredible archive of ScreenTalks.

Available on iTunes, Spotify and Acast

Barbican Cinema 2

You may also like