Fidel Castro is, without a doubt, one of the most controversial and captivating figures of the twentieth century. As indicated by the title of this documentary, he has become a living legend viewed contrastively as hero or dictator. Although the recent history of Cuba plays a role in this work, this documentary instead focuses on the individual as it recounts the life and times of Fidel Castro from childhood through the present day. Castro: Man and Myth is based on the book Fidel Castro, a Biography (2004) by Volker Skierka, originally published in German in 2001 using resources not previously accessible, such as those in the former German Democratic Republic’s archives on Cuba. Skierka also co-directed and co-produced this documentary.

Fidel Castro employed a vast spy network that helped him remain in power.