Here Was Cuba

Fifty years later, HERE WAS CUBA explores the intensely tricky political predicament that was The Cuban Missile Crisis. Back then, communication was still primitive – which meant that, even in the most urgent times, world leaders had to depend on telegraphs and couriers to carry their messages. When the Kennedy administration found out the Soviets secretly installed missiles in Cuba, it spiraled into a 14-day altercation that literally could have ended the world as we know it. Messages between the White House and Nikita Khrushchev were confounding at best and agitated even more by an anxious Fidel Castro. In the end, we narrowly escaped an apocalypse. But gratitude isn't only due to Kennedy for his cautious and thoughtful handling of the situation. Khrushchev also demonstrated similar qualities and sacrificed his public reputation for the greater good of mankind by agreeing to America's discreet conditions. This engrossing documentary explores the debacle from all sides, featuring fascinating interviews and extremely rare footage. It's a powerful reminder of just how close the world came to facing nuclear annihilation. (In English, Russian, and Spanish with subtitles) —E.F.