Cuba è al collasso? Siamo andati a vedere cosa sta succedendo

Cuba is one of the few countries in the world that has managed to remain itself. But at what cost? We arrived on the island during one of the most complex moments in its recent history: fuel is scarce, electricity cuts are frequent, water doesn’t reach the houses, medicines are hard to find, tourism has stopped and salaries are no longer enough. To understand how the island reached this point, we did something simple: go back. We retraced more than a century of Cuban history — from independence to the Revolution, from the Special Period to today’s crisis — speaking with people who actually live there. What emerged is a journey into a complex reality where the embargo, internal politics and history intertwine in ways that are difficult to separate. A country divided between those who blame everything on the blockade and those who also recognize the rigidities of a system struggling to hold together. This travel documentary tries to do something simple and difficult at the same time: listen. Listen to those who can’t take it anymore, those who defend the Revolution, those who admit the cracks, and those who have learned to stay silent. In the end we came back with a question that goes beyond the island: in 2026, is it still possible to defend sovereignty without paying the price? “Cuba – The Price of Remaining Itself” is a travel documentary that uses the island as a mirror to reflect on identity, power and dignity in today’s world. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro – Is Cuba collapsing? 04:03 Independence and the neocolonial period 07:24 The Revolution 12:55 The U.S. reaction 14:42 The Special Period 20:04 From illusion to setback 25:12 January 2026 – The final blow? 27:20 Responsibility and blame 29:41 What do Cubans want? 33:50 Final reflections NOTES The opinions expressed belong exclusively to the interviewees. This documentary is an attempt to understand, not to take sides. Filmed in Cuba in February 2026. The situation is constantly evolving. For security reasons, the names of some interviewees have been omitted. CREDITS Written and narrated by: Vincenzo Morelli Directed by: Vincenzo Morelli and Emanuela D’Ambrosi Cinematography: Emanuela D’Ambrosi Editing and Color Grading: Dario Monaco Produced by: Macondo Expeditions Sound Design: Boris Riccardo D’Agostino, Saburamaya Hashemian de Beitia Music Supervision: Carla Di Matteo Travelers: Camilla Natalini, Emanuela D’Ambrosi, Tommaso Marinello, Vincenzo Morelli