Watching Agnès Varda’s Salut les Cubains and Octavio Getino and Fernando Solana’s La Hora de los Hornos was like entering two distinct but related universes. Both movies employ montage and narration to make a strong political statement, but they approach it differently. La Hora de los Hornos was combative and fierce. The striking images and intertitles made it impossible to overlook the message of neocolonialism in Latin America. Particularly in light of extractivism and the exploitation of people and resources by foreign powers, it felt weighty yet necessary. The movie aims to educate and motivate audiences to take action. Salut les Cubains, on the other hand, was equally significant but had a lighter tone. Varda focused on Afro-Cuban music, culture, and common people to represent Cuban life. The sights of post-revolutionary living were realistic and vivid because of the friendly and captivating storytelling. I liked how it acknowledged the political history of Cuba, while showing joy and resilience. What all that got me thinking about were the connections between American struggles and movements like the Civil Rights Movement, and for that I’d have to say I found both movies striking. Whether through exuberant depictions of cultural identity or militant calls to action, both emphasize the struggle against oppression. This made me ponder more clearly about media as a weapon for empowerment and education after seeing these movies.