Cuba 1979

As December 1958 descended upon Havana, Cuba, Major Robert Dapes (Sean Connery), a seasoned counter-insurgency expert, touched down in the vibrant city as a hired gun. At the behest of General Fulgencio Batista’s regime, Robert had been dispatched to lend his expertise to the Cuban army in their battle against Fidel Castro’s burgeoning rebellion. Unbeknownst to him, American investor Larry Gutman (Jack Weston) was also arriving on the same flight, with a keen eye on the island’s lucrative sugar fields.

As Robert and his military escort, Captain Ramirez (Hector Elizondo), made their way from the airport, they caught glimpses of elegance and sophistication in the form of Alexandra Pulido (Brooke Adams), a stunning businesswoman who was met at the terminal by her chauffeured car. Robert’s curiosity was piqued as he noticed her resemblance to a former lover, but his attempt to hail her fell flat as she disappeared into the distance.

Meanwhile, Gutman found himself whisked away by Alexandra to her cigar factory, where the air was thick with the scent of rolling tobacco and the hum of machinery. As Gutman marveled at the factory’s operations, Robert’s gaze lingered on the mysterious Alexandra, his mind racing with the possibility that she might be more than just a businesswoman.

As the day wore on, Juan Pulido (Chris Sarandon), Alexandra’s philandering husband, made a show of his power and influence, flaunting his family’s vast empire to Gutman. However, it soon became clear that Don Jose Pulido (Walter Gotell), the patriarch of the Pulido clan, held the real reins of control. As Juan escorted Gutman through the factory, Alexandra’s ire was piqued by her husband’s continued dalliances with Therese Mederos (Lonette McKee), a factory worker.

As tensions simmered beneath the surface, Robert checked into his own humble abode, eschewing the luxurious trappings of the city for a more low-key existence. His meeting with General Bello (Martin Balsam) marked the beginning of his efforts to turn the tide in favor of Batista’s regime, but Robert was keenly aware that Castro’s rebellion would not be easily vanquished without winning over the hearts and minds of the Cuban people.

As the threads of Robert’s and Alexandra’s lives began to intertwine, a chance encounter at a military barracks brought them face-to-face once more. Despite her marriage to Juan, there remained an undeniable spark between Robert and “Alex,” but their shared history was now tempered by the reality of her new life as Mrs. Pulido.

In this searing portrait of 1950s Cuba, the lines between loyalty, duty, and passion would soon blur, setting the stage for a complex web of intrigue and deception that would ensnare them all.

As Robert’s reconnaissance patrol yields a captured rebel soldier and crucial enemy documents, Ramirez delivers a sobering assessment: despite this small victory, it may be too late to alter the course of the war in favor of the Cuban army. The evening brings a somber tone as a formal dinner party hosted by General Bello is brutally ambushed by rebels, claiming several high-society lives. Robert and Ramirez arrive on the scene just moments after the shooting, working tirelessly to tend to the wounded until medical assistance arrives.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Julio Mederos (Danny De La Paz), a fiery young rebel fighter driven by ambition, plots to take out Juan Pulido for his perceived betrayal of Therese. However, Therese herself intervenes, urging her brother to spare his life. Across town, at the Flamingo nightclub on Christmas Eve, Alexandra’s ire is piqued as Juan assumes she would share a table with Gutman’s companion, a prostitute. When Robert arrives, she joins him at the bar, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they reminisce about their passionate affair 15 years prior. Just as Robert is poised to warn her of the recent bloodshed, Juan appears, prompting Alexandra to introduce the two men. It is then that Robert notices Julio training his sights on them, reacting swiftly to deflect the bullet. Ramirez gives chase but ultimately fails to apprehend the elusive rebel.

Following their roles in the police investigation, Robert returns to the nightclub and finds Alexandra waiting for him. As dawn breaks, the former lovers take a leisurely stroll through Havana’s streets, reflecting on memories past. A kiss sparks anew, leading them back to Robert’s hotel room where they rekindle their passion. Meanwhile, Juan indulges in revelry with Therese.

Away from the city’s bustle, Castro’s intelligence agent Nunez (Roger Lloyd Pack) chastises Julio for his ill-advised attempt on Pulido’s life. The agent presents a photograph of Major Robert Dapes to the impetuous rebel, emphasizing that if he seeks to eliminate someone, he should target a more valuable individual.

The next morning brings an announcement that Rivero Agüero, a candidate backed by Batista, has been elected President of Cuba – though Alexandra reveals to Robert that this was not a democratic election, but rather the result of Batista’s manipulation. Recognizing her unhappiness in her marriage, Robert extends an invitation for Alexandra to leave Cuba with him. However, she reminds him of her responsibilities at the factory and her affection for her luxurious lifestyle. As their conversation turns into a heated argument, she departs.

As tensions escalate across Havana, rebels seize the airwaves to mobilize a nationwide strike against the rigged election’s results. In the midst of this turmoil, Alexandra struggles to keep her workers at the Pulido cigar factory from joining the protests that are swelling the city’s streets. Meanwhile, on a bus ride through Cuba, Julio finds himself detained alongside other passengers by Cuban army soldiers at a military checkpoint. Unbeknownst to Julio, his fate is intertwined with that of Robert and Ramirez, who arrive at the same barrier mere moments later. As Julio panics and opens fire on the soldiers, he inadvertently takes the life of Ramirez instead of Robert.

The ensuing chaos sends Julio fleeing, gun in hand, but he soon finds himself face-to-face with Robert, who has tracked him to a deserted cigar factory where Alexandra is being held hostage. Julio’s demands for Robert to drive them to Castro’s camp are met with resistance, and it isn’t until they’re intercepted by the guerrillas that the trio is taken to a recently captured gasoline depot. Here, Alexandra and Robert join Cuban army soldiers as detainees under the watchful eye of Carrillo (Tony Mathews), a rebel leader who sees their capture not as an opportunity for violence, but rather as a chance to win over the captives to the revolutionary cause.

As General Bello’s counterattack unfolds, Robert finds himself increasingly disillusioned with the government that hired him and begins to see the rebels in a new light. In the heat of battle, he commandeers a government tank and joins the fray, blasting away at government troops alongside Carrillo and Gutman, who takes up a heavy .50 caliber machine gun to defend their position. Amidst the chaos, Gutman mistakes a charter flight piloted by Donald Skinner for a government bomber and unleashes a barrage of gunfire that sends the plane fleeing for Miami. The battle rages on, with the rebels ultimately emerging victorious as they defeat the Cuban military and capture many government troops, including General Bello himself.

As the confetti of New Year’s Day settles, Robert (character) makes his move, driving Alexandra home and revealing his plan to whisk her away from Cuba as Fidel Castro’s ascension to power looms. But instead of meekly acquiescing, Alexandra asserts her independence, declaring she wants to stay in Cuba and implores Robert to remain by her side. The tension is palpable as Robert exits the scene, determined to make arrangements for their departure, yet hopeful that Alexandra will have a change of heart and meet him at the airport.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Havana, Juan remains blissfully unaware of the impending doom, indulging in his usual antics as if nothing has changed. Little do he know, Julio, the rebellious teenager, has other plans. Seizing the opportunity, Julio sneaks onto the property and delivers a fatal blow to Juan’s carefree existence, shooting him dead in the swimming pool.

Later that day, at the airport, Robert, Gutman (character), and their fellow expats gather in the departure lounge, watching as Batista and Don Jose Pulido make a quick exit on private planes. Before boarding his own flight, Robert leaves a ticket at the gate for Alexandra, hoping against hope she’ll change her mind and join him. But when she arrives, her heart heavy with grief and uncertainty, she eschews the opportunity to flee and instead chooses to face an unknown future alone in Havana.

As the city erupts into jubilation, welcoming Fidel Castro to power with a sea of cheering Cubans, the camera pans out to reveal a somber Alexandra walking away from the airport, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The film’s final shot is a caption - ‘Cuba, 1959’ - as the credits roll over the Cuban flag, casting a poignant coda over this tumultuous chapter in Cuba’s history.