638 Ways to Kill Castro

Watch 638 Ways to Kill Castro

  • 2006
  • 1 hr 15 min
  • 6.9  (447)

638 Ways to Kill Castro is a 2006 documentary film that chronicles various attempts of assassination against the Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The film is directed by Dollan Cannell and produced by Sky Vision for the UK's Channel 4. The film features interviews with various people who have been involved in the various plots to kill Fidel Castro, including former CIA operatives, Cuban exiles, and a former British soldier. The interviews are interspersed with archival footage that documents the various assassination attempts, many of which failed.

The film's title comes from a statement made by a CIA operative who claimed to have compiled a list of 638 different ways to kill Castro. The film explores some of these methods, including poison cigars, exploding mollusks, and even a diving suit that was intended to be contaminated with a fungus that would cause a fatal skin infection.

One of the main themes of the film is the ongoing conflict between the United States and Cuba, as well as the role that the CIA played in attempting to destabilize the Cuban government. The film provides a historical overview of the US-Cuba relationship, from the revolution led by Fidel Castro in the late 1950s to the current political situation.

One of the key figures featured in the film is Cuban ex-patriate Enrique Encinosa, who was part of a group of exiles that was trained by the CIA to carry out guerrilla warfare in Cuba. Encinosa explains how the CIA provided his group with training, weapons, and money, and how they were instructed to carry out a series of bombings in Havana in the 1960s.

The film also features interviews with members of Castro's inner circle, who provide a rare insight into the mind of the Cuban leader. One of these figures is Cuban journalist Enrique Ovares, who was close friends with Castro and served as his private secretary for many years. Ovares provides a fascinating perspective on Castro's personality and leadership style, as well as his reaction to the various assassination attempts.

Overall, 638 Ways to Kill Castro is a fascinating and gripping documentary that provides a unique insight into the history of US-Cuba relations, as well as the various plots to assassinate Fidel Castro. The film offers a balanced perspective on these events, and while it is sympathetic to the Cuban government, it also provides a critical analysis of the role that the CIA played in attempting to destabilize the country.

638 Ways to Kill Castro
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Description
  • Release Date
    2006
  • Runtime
    1 hr 15 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    6.9  (447)