La primera carga al machete

THE FIRST CHARGE OF THE MACHETE

When we wandered

lonely in a time with no present.

When even the tree
refused to share

its scent seconded
by ancient whispers.

When the creek, far away,
among shadows, turned into sadness

to let the enemy die of thirst.

When we wandered
lonely in a time with no present.

We had to rescue the ages of life.

Then we had to fight
on the machete's edge.

Then we had to kill
on the machete's edge.

Win a thousand battles
on the machete's edge

which we are delivering today.

It was really... every moment...
every moment was impressive.

First, the surprise of
seeing all that people,

all that people over you

and then seeing that they wore
machetes, that they used machetes.

We had never fought
against such a weapon.

Which was the most
impressive moment for you?

When I realized that

they didn't use the
machete like we use the sword.

That they don't fight like soldiers.

They can strike you from downwards,

or upwards, or from
a side, just the same

and you don't know what to do.

To them, we weren't men,

we were bushes, shrubs, trees

and against that, there's
nothing fencing could do.

Have you used the bayonet?
Do you know how to use it?

Yes, of course,

but what we had
been taught was of no use.

To them, we are not men.

But you knew how to
defend yourselves with the bayonet.

Yes, as soldiers we know
perfectly how to use a bayonet.

You don't get it.
You just don't get it.

I'm telling you

that I saw a carbine
cut in two with just one blow.

How could it not
cut arms and legs too?

Limbs and, well...

Some who fought by our side
were struck down right next to me.

They had wounds up to 20 cm. deep.

And how long did the macheting last?

It seems to me

like it's impossible to tell.
It seemed like an eternity to me.

I think

it lasted about two hours.

And what would you say if
I told you it lasted just 15 minutes?

Manuel Milanés Mujica,
landowner at Bayamo.

Benjamín Ramírez Rondón,
soldier of the Liberation Army.

Dolores Lapinel Ortega,
citizen of Bayamo.

Manuel Antonio Vázquez
from Baire, craftsman.

José García, councilor of Bayamo.

Feliz Figueredo, colonel
of the Liberation Army.

Carlos Jorge Herreros,
from Jiguaní, notary.

That's very frequent in these times.

We have a great interest in your
opinion since you're in the military,

about the duration
of this charge of the machete.

Well, look,

I'll tell you the truth,
I don't really think it's important

the time, the duration,
of this charge.

I mean, the truly important
are the consequences,

and we all agree about that.
-I think we do.

Consequences has been positive.

Right, that's why I said
having a discussion was difficult.

Well, yes, but I do believe

that we should try to anyway.
That's why we're here.

We could talk a some more about
the consequences, don't you think?

Of course, why
don't you start yourself?

As I see it

we had some achievements.

Even better, a lot of achievements.

Some more vital than others,
but all of them important.

The most important thing is
that we have secured the rebellion.

Excuse me, extended it too.
Fighting is not reduced to Bayamo

The Camagüey has risen too.
I wouldn't forget that.

But the latter is a
consequence of the former.

I think the same, the main thing
was to consolidate the revolution

and we've done it

and in such a way
that nothing could stop it.

Well, I think it's all important.

How is the people
who's outside called?

You mean emigration.

Yes. The emigration
has sent men and weapons.

One important thing is
that many people joined

and well, there's more things, right?
-Of course there's more.

The decree abolishing slavery,
which for me is

one of the most important
things of the revolution.

Well, one thing leads to another.

Actually, men from other
countries have arrived,

Cubans and foreigners,

who have military experience
and can help us a lot.

The most important thing is that
Bayamo remains under our control.

If it was under spanish control,
none of this could've been achieved.

So the most important
thing is the machete.

Without it we'd had lost Bayamo.

The history of many countries

is full of rebellions that
fought with their working tools.

With axes, with sickles, with scythes.

And we used ours.

The machete.

What I do know is that we have
a weapon and we know how to use it

and the spanish know it and
they fear ir as the devil himself.

Here I have an original Collins.

People call it The Guaranteed because
of the warranty mark from the maker.

Here's the seal.

It's made from perfect steel.
Really good.

I believe it can be very
well used by a woman.

I've seen it being used by
everyone on the fields. Men, women.

Look, you start to use it as a child

so then it's like it
gets stuck to your hand.

And that's exactly what
the spanish soldiers are afraid of.

What they fear the most.

The mambí and the
machete seem to be united,

to be one thing.

That fear in the enemy

and this weapon of ours

are thing we'll take advantage of

while the fight goes on

and the fight will
last until we're free.

What you've just seen and heard

it's going on in the Eastern
Department at this very moment.

In the final months of
this dramatic year of 1868

the, until yesterday, ever
faithful Island of Cuba is in war.

Weeks ago, in the
early days of October

Mr. Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
with a determined group

defied Spain's power.

After a few skirmishes won
and also some setbacks

the bourgeoning rebellion
had its first great victory,

San Salvador de Bayamo.

Founded four centuries ago
by Diego Velázquez,

it's one of the most important
cities of the Eastern Department

and the whole island.
It was taken by the rebels

after a fully fledged
Spanish capitulation.

The city remains still
under cuban control

and became the center
of the revolution.

To this city, converging from
Manzanillo and Santiago de Cuba,

have been sent two Spanish columns

commanded by the colonels
Campillo and Quiroz.

Both columns' objectives:

reconquest Bayamo,

crush the rebellion.

On October 21

the column commanded by Col. Quiroz
enters and claim the town of Baire

at a short distance from Bayamo

stopping there without
any apparent reason

their so far quite fast
march towards Santiago de Cuba.

Col. Quiroz, why did
you stop in Baire?

Why didn't you march on to Bayamo?

Well, believe it or not

a soldier must rest too.

Our men have taken a long walk.

The weather wasn't very kind

specially for those of us who
come from cold countries.

Some of them required a bloodletting.

We had also some of the
so-called insurrects showing up.

This men worked very hard about it.

All day long they've
been in this same situation.

The priest has done
a commendable work too.

Anyway

the so-called insurrects

are cornered.

Sooner or later, they'll fall into our
hands or will come themselves to us.

I assure you the situation
is completely under control.

In Havana, capital of the
ever faithful island of Cuba.

There's news that
seem to be quite real.

What were you talking
about the Eastern Department?

-The Eastern Department?
-Yes, please.

I wasn't saying anything specific, ok?

Excuse me, sir, but I didn't have
the pleasure of meeting you.

-I was saying...
-A pleasure to meet you.

I would love to know.

I have some land in
Manzanillo but that's all.

I can't tell you nothing more.

Nothing important.

Listen, sir, could you excuse us?
Our conversation is private, ok?

-But I just want to know.
-But it's nothing, sir.

-We have nothing to say.
-Please, don't leave, I'm asking you.

-We have nothing to say
about the Eastern Department.

-Look, sir, you're bothering him, ok?
He's an old man.

Please, listen.

-Leave me alone!
-Please, I want to know, come here.

How could you dare to force me?

-I'm just asking you.
-Stop, stop, stop.

-Please, I'm only asking.
-And I insist, sir,

what could I tell you?
-Look, I'm asking you

to please tell me what you think
-You're disrespecting an old man.

Please, I don't want
to disrespect no old man.

Don't push me.
Don't you push me.

Ok, so what do you think?

-What I think about what?
-What do you think?

Don't you read the news?

Yes, I do read the news.
What do you want?

So then, what do you think
about all that's going on?

-I know nothing, sir.

What do you think about
what's going on in the Eastern Dept.?

That there's an uprising
in Yara, in Manzanillo.

I don't know, the Spanish sent troops

to keep the order.
-And what do you think about it?

-What do you want? Are you insane?
-What do you think? Tell me.

I think it's a logical conclusion.

Many people is unhappy with the
ways of the Spanish government

on the island and that's it.

But what do you think?

I think there's too
many quiet people here

and too many people fighting there.

Outside Havana it's easier to rebel.

Oh, yes?

-Of course.
-Why?

Why? For obvious reasons.

Don't you see the power
Spain has here in the capital?

An infinity of spies,
volunteers, army, troops,

constantly watching and checking.
-So you think we should stand it?

-I didn't...
-We should stand it, huh?

We, for instance,

have had this print for years

and censorship has never
been as hard as it is now.

Well, censorhip,

yes, it's a little bit strict

but hey, we shouldn't exaggerate.

Anything that's printed now

must pass through censorship
and it wasn't like that before.

It's not as bad as you're saying.

You're just afraid because
we are in front of this gentleman.

Well, we don't really know him.

Look, I'm going to speak frankly.

Here, if someone brings us some book,
some writing, some essay by a cuban

it goes through censorship
and is never published

but if they bring some book

written by a Spanish,
censorships approves it.

It's not always like that. Some
Spanish writings get censored too.

Well, maybe if it's something against

the metropolis, Spain,
or Queen Isabella II.

God may know, but I don't

And why are you laughing?

I am a government employee.

We, criollos, have very
few opportunities here

because the best
positions are for the Spanish

and are almost always
designated from the peninsula.

This is a very hard situation for us

and I guess the situation
for the rest of the cubans,

for the criollos, it's hard too.
-You're a government employee, right?

-Yes, sir.
-Then shut up.

-You should be ashamed.
-Why should the gentleman shut up?

Hey, why should he shut up?

Ain't you afraid of
losing your position?

Well, in Cuba

we all have always

the fear of losing
the position we hold.

That's a shame.

We'll never learn to
govern ourselves like this.

It's not a secret for
anyone that this tax issue...

Wait, what do you think
about the taxes?

That's keeping all of us Cubans stuck.

We can't live with the amounts
of money we must give to the Spanish.

My partner and I
had some prints in our shop

and we saw the heading
on taxes and it's untenable.

Nothing that doesn't
happen everywhere else, right?

Nothing that doesn't
happen everywhere else.

-Contraband happens everywhere.
-It sure does.

-Between the Spanish in cunspiracy.
-Conspiracy.

Cunspiracy, conspiracy, whatever.
I don't know what I'm saying anymore.

The contraband, the conspiracy...

There's many fabrications
about that. It's all lies.

It's vox populi.
It's the people's voice speaking.

What's your opinion on all this?

What do you mean?
People make up stories.

Why? Who does?

The ones who talk about it. The thing
is you all have subversive ideas.

-I don't make up no stories!
-You have subversive ideas!

And so what if
we do have subversive ideas?

We're Cubans and we can
have subversive ideas if we want.

They're so arrogant they don't allow
Cubans in the government.

You see no one controls the criollos.
They think they rule the world.

And what do we do with that?
We can't go on like this.

And now they screwed up, huh?
Those in power.

Well, this must end one day, right?

That's easy to say, but
what have we done? Nothing!

Maybe things will change
with all that's happening.

-Maybe it will.
-What do you mean maybe? It sure will!

Sure it will, gentlemen, but
you don't see the deep division

between Cubans and Spanish.
It's insurmountable.

Also, the Spanish power is obsolete

and whoever denies that, observes it.

Observes it no his knees.
Don't shut me up!

Don't forget the Carlos Manuel
movement in the east.

Of course.

We're sick of taking the insults
and humiliations of the Spanish.

We could alsto talk
about national integrity

with the Spanish in charge.

-We could live together.
-Not in this conditions.

Not like this.

Yet I feel very differently, as Cuban.

What we must do
is leave for the jungle.

Let him speak, sir! Let him speak!

-We must shake off the Spanish yoke.
-Remember the Santa Fe experience.

No, we must shake off
the Spanish yoke.

We can't go on like this.

They promised us improvements
many times and what did we get?

-I don't know, young man.
-We can't let them fool us again.

We can't even sell
our products abroad.

-The volunteers!
-Leave them.

With whose permission
are you holding this meeting?

Donato Mármol, General of the Cuban
Liberation Army and military staff.

Which are the reasons
why the cubans are fighting?

Well, because

of known reasons.

-Painfully known to all.
-Could you speak up, please?

I said that it's
because of known reasons.

Reasons painfully known to all.

This document may
tell it better than myself

Sorry, I'd like to
hear it from yourself.

If we want to read the document,
we can do it later.

I'd like to hear your reasons.

Ok, if that's what you want.

We're sick of the oppression,

of being ruled by force.

I think that's enough reason
for anyone to rebel, isn't it?

They're saying there's
a liberal revolution in Spain,

do you think that could
affect the local affairs?

-How?
-Well, it may foster a settlement.

No, the only possible settlement
with Spain is our independence.

Besides, we all know

the instability of
the Spanish governments.

Look

if we keep being part
of the Spanish domains

we're subject to
those constant changes

and we must accept them all,
either good or bad.

Does that answer your question?

Isn't it possible to achieve what
you want through pacific means?

Pacific means?

If there were any,
we wouldn't be here.

We are not murderers, sir.

We don't like killing.

And, of course, we don't
like having to die either.

But Spain forced us into this.

Explain your opinion in detail.

Well, explaining our history
which is a little long

in time

but short in age,
would be quite boring.

But I'd tell you that

since the first Spanish arrived here,
we always fighted for freedom.

Because of the oppresion here,
and the injustice here.

Many naive cowards believed

that behaving well and complying
they could achieve social change

but it wasn't like that.

And some others who
were better off economically

tried in the courts and
with the concession of friends

to achieve that justice

but only found deception.

We want to correct that deception.

We want our freedom

by any mean

even with blood.

We could name many other reasons.

At any time

we can be deported, incarcerated

or worst

shot by a military commission

that works perpetually

and which of course
doesn't exist in Spain.

So you don't want to just be
treated like any other Spanish.

-Like if we're just another province?
-Exactly.

We're Cubans. Never.

The one who expects only that
is nothing but a traitor.

We aim to govern ourselves
without Spanish tutelage.

We're cubans and we
can make our own laws

and establish the equality
that Spain could never establish.

No, also

we're too separated from Spain.
Separated in distance and interests.

Our revolution can't have the same
interests that the Cadiz revolution.

We don't want to be
a Spanish province.

We fight to become
sovereign and independent.

What would happen to the Spanish
population in case of a rebel victory?

We must tell apart
two kinds of Spanish.

Those who live in Cuba and
accept the new order of things

and those who don't
live in Cuba but thrive in it

collaborating with
the colonial regime.

The former would be treated
just like any other Cuban.

We aren't fighting
against Spanish people,

we're fighting against
the Spanish government,

and any Spanish who agrees with
this war would be considered Cuban.

There's one here listening.
Right, Mario?

I was born in Spain

but I've settled here
and I feel like a Cuban.

-My cause is the same as theirs.
-Why?

Because of a sense of justice.

Every good Spanish
has fought for freedom in Spain.

Why shouldn't we do it here?

Tell me.

I'd like to know your opinion on that.

My opinion on that?

Well, I think there are many
like him who are on our side.

A machete had to be

what broke out of the blue

and a hundred machetes,
a hundred wings flied to where

we could soon know

about the achieved glories

and like spilled gunpowder

that doesn't stop its fire

thousands of new machetes
fight for their beloved land.

Colonel Quiroz, could you
tell us about your plans?

Clear up the way to Bayamo,

establish contact with
the force of Colonel Campillo,

observing the movement in the area,

calm it down

and leave some forces
in the rearguard

for its peace.

Have you been in any encounter?

No, not exactly.
We stayed in the rear.

And what's your opinion
about what's going on?

I don't get your question.

I mean what you think
about what's going on.

Do you believe the
rebels may succeed?

-No. No, sir.
-And these civilians coming with you?

They're inhabitants of the area
who wanted to come with us

to avoid the reprisal of the bandits.

He brought me by force.
I come as prisoner.

Well, we heard there were
thousands of rebels.

Actually we were attacked
only by small groups

with sticks and stones.

We also resisted another group
in a place near here called

-I can't remember.
-Venta de Casanova.

Venta de Casanova,
but it was otherwise uneventful.

If the rebel groups are so small

why such a display of power?

Well, first of all I've
told you that we'd heard

there were thousands
of rebels waiting for us.

Despite that we've
brought just 700 men.

We can't allow any action

that threatens the national integrity.

We can't allow a gang of outlaws,

godless, lawless bandits

disturb our peace at this time
when we need it so much.

-What are you saying?
-I'm brought by force, as a prisoner.

-Why?
-Because we took to the streets

to protest their injustice
and their abuse.

You can't talk to the prisoners.

You said they came by their will.

Most of them do, some of them...

To make them abuse me but they were
Cubans so they did nothing to me.

-Shut your mouth!
-They abused me, hit me, vexed me.

Why do you think they brought you?

To protect themselves
from the Cubans.

What happens if the Cubans come?

They may attack me, they abuse me.

It doesn't matter.

Murderer! Murderer!

Take her out! Take her out!

Free Cuba!

Go away. Take her out!

Viva Cuba!

Colonel Quiroz, what do you think
of the reactions in Bayamo?

That we were very well
received by the people.

My men behaved like worthy
representatives of the Spanish Army.

I'm sure there will be no complaints.

Also, the people understood that
we come in peace, as friends

guardians of the order,
their lives and their haciendas

and to reestablish the order
that has been disturbed.

When the Spanish arrived

they started looting the houses.

They took our men.

We were left with nothing.

They did the same to everyone?

-Only to Cubans.
-Are you sure?

I've only seen them attack Cubans.

Four women were
walking down the street,

one of them with her hair down
and red and blue ribbons on it.

They met some Spanish.

They asked them why they were
dressed like that and they said

they're Cubans and wanted to diff-
erentiate themselves from the Spanish.

Did they attack you?
Did they make you leave the town?

Did they say or do anything to you?

What happened?

Have they took any family?

Yes, they took the
Lapinel and Caldaz families.

And what did they do to them?

We found two hanged.

They did something to you?
What else happened?

Please shut up!

Leave her alone.

Calm down, calm down.

Please shut up.

We've been running away for
many days. Leave us alone.

The General Captain and Sheriff
of the ever faithful island of Cuba

Don Francisco de Lersundi.

It's all nothing but tomfoolery.

A deplorable tomfoolery

which unfortunately

has made some naive fools
believe in some absurd illusions.

Look.

Except for the province of Manzanillo

everywhere else
remains perfectly quiet.

Here's precisely

the last reports.

-Do you want to see them?
-No, it's not necessary.

Soon will end this
ridiculous and criminal attempt

that has dragged
by force some civilians

who have begun to
surrender themselves.

It was to be expected.

However, your decree
on the 20, Excellency,

puts under military jurisdiction
everyone, including civilians,

who engage in crimes of
treason, rebellion and sedition,

isn't that too strong a measure
given the situation you described?

Look,

it's easy to understand.

We can't allow the
public order to be upset.

Even if it's just a cognate of rebellion

it's our duty to guarantee
peace and quiet

to the honest people
of the Eastern Department.

And of course

the punishment will be as exemplary
as the circumstances require.

Excellency, don't you think
the rebellion is expanding?

You don't know the cuban people.

They are wimpy, indolent,

inefficient,

they lack any fighting attitude.

They're definitely, let me tell you,

useless for soldiering

and above all, I'd say

they lack the mettle needed
to confront the Spanish power.

Nonetheless, Your Excellency,
those who took Bayamo are Cubas.

That's the result of
the ineptitude of some

who weren't up to their
positions and duties.

But, allow me to say

that the two columns marching
to Bayamo at this moment

will pulverize those
outlaws in a matter of hours.

I've plenty of confidence in
the colonels Quiroz and Campillo.

Before the forces of a regular army

those rebels have nothing to do.

Freedom is our daily bread

and the longing for it

became a machete to love it.

Stampedes are provoked

rocks are thrown, we win and we lose

but things get done and we keep doing

for Cuba, for us, for life.

For life.

War bulletin.

General lieutenancy
of the Cuban Liberation Army

Yesterday an encounter
ocurred between our troops

commanded by Gen. Modesto Diaz

and the Spanish column which,
commanded by Colonel Campillo,

marched on from
Manzanillo to attack Bayamo.

The encounter took place
at the banks of Babatuaba creek.

Victory crowned the
heroic efforts of our men

when after a few skirmishes

the enemy trumpet called for retreat.

Afterwards, the Spanish column took

the way back to Manzanillo.

The enemy in his shameful escape,

whether to hide its casualties

or to infect the population
and make them declare an epidemic

to the detriment of us
and the whole neighborhood,

threw many corpses on
the wells and toilets of the houses

with no regard for
humanity or christianism,

hygiene or public health,

acting like savages

and not like men who received baptism
and the holy oil of christianity.

In order to shamelessly
defend themselves, the Spanish

took pacific citizens as hostages

some women among them.

This victory shatters all
Spanish hope of attacking Bayamo

since of the two columns
that loomed over the city

remains only the one
stationed at Baire

commanded by Col. Quiroz.

With this victory joining

the fresh laurels won at Bayamo
and other points in the region

wane the enemy hopes of
beating the revolution

which showing its strength

will throw out of our nation
the despised colonial power.

Bayamo between October 20 and 24.

The city held by the Cubans

tries to organize itself as
the center of the rebel territory.

Do you think the Cubans
will win this war?

Well,

I don't know much about
these things but you could imagine

I'm sure they will.

What'll happen when we have
to fight with the Spanish troops?

It's a regular army.
Organized, disciplined.

With experienced officers.

There's even recent wars in Spain.

What'll happen there?
We have very few weapons.

We will get the victory

through discipline, organization and
the leaders who emerge in the fight.

For me, just as for any other Cuban,

it's very exciting
and truly passionate

to be into something so dignified
and pure as the revolution.

Is there anything specific
why you think you'll win the war?

Mostly because of their courage

and their let's call it passion.

It's not enough to have the
stablished power, we already have it.

We have a governor, a mayor,
even aldermen

but we need to become military
because we've never been military.

And we have to do it now.

Once we're military,
only then will be decisive

the passion and the ideals
for the triumph of our cause.

I think victories must be achieved
on the front, not with tricks.

But did they fight at Babatuaba
or didn't they? Did they fight?

I think there was no fighting
at Babatuaba

because we can't always
depend on chance and luck.

You think we fought at Babatuaba?

I do think it was a fight.

No, there was no confrontation.
We tricked the Spanish.

It's different.

We met there with a Spanish troop

that outnumbered us.
We were about 500 people.

Yes, more or less 500,
but no one had any weapon

so the Gen. Modesto Diaz

gave us rods and sticks
to make the Spanish

think we had weapons.

Then we passed in front of them,

at a certain distance, of course,
so they can't see much.

In short, the Spanish run away,

We won just like we won here.

I think they should
fight like armies fight,

face to face and warring the right way.

But it's all fair in war.

I guess many of this new officers
don't even know what war is.

I don't know why
they call them officers.

They've never had
anything to do with the military.

It seems like there
was a degree raffle.

It bothers some people

that there is foreign
officers in our army,

but if we don't have enough
experienced people here in cuba

willing to fight for independence

we must look for them anywhere.

We'll look for officers
wherever they are.

In short, what we Cubans
need to win this heroic struggle

that we're carrying out
against the spanish, is this:

lots of rifles, and if we lack rifles,

then we'll use
stones, sticks, machetes.

Do you think machetes
can be used to fight?

Well, I don't know.

I think so. Some duel with it.

The day of the storming of Bayamo,
a few blocks away from here

we fought with machetes against
the lancers of Cmdr. Guajardo

and Guajardo almost got
his head ripped off by a machete.

Do you think machetes
can be used to fight?

It's the only thing we have.
We have nothing else.

The machete.

Machete, facón, timbo,

mount knife or ciega,

mocha, calabozo.

It's a heavy and usually rect sword

with a horn handle and no crossguard.

With a thin edge on one side
that curvs towards a pointed tip.

The hard back of the blade
is quadrangular and rect.

Cubans use the machete so much that
they do it with elegance and mastery.

The skill the natives
have in handling this tool

comes from the fact

that since young they're
using it and watching others use it.

The best machete blow
is the one thrown upwards

trimming the spiking plants,

knocking down the
tense, extended branches.

It's such a rough regular job

it develops an amazing
muscular strenght

and a certain skill
striking with the sword

quickly upward.

To make its use easier, the machete
is always kept sharp as a razor

trying that it's able to crack
and slit with a quick and deep cut

as a light knife.

Anatomy of a leader.

Well, what are you doing?

We're going to Baire, my friend.
The Spanish are in Baire.

We'll go there and drive'em out.

-How many men do the Spanish have?
-I don't know.

-Are they men from Baire?
-I don't know.

They're coming from the
Spanish settlement in Santiago.

They want to take Bayamo
but we won't let them.

Approximately, how far is Baire?

About three leagues.

How long does it take
to travel that far?

Six or seven hours.

When would we arrive?

About dawn, I guess.

Well, he must have some experience.

As I said, he was
in the army in his country

and as far as I know

there was quite some fighting there.

That was when the poet
José Joaquín Palma

went around Bayamo recruiting people

and then this man showed up.

He had a terrible urge for fighting,

so he asked to be
allowed to enter the force.

He's not Cuban, he's Dominican

but he's been
living in Cuba for years.

He was part of the Spanish Army
reserve back in his country.

-And what happened?
-I don't know.

Apparently he had some
trouble with someone and quit

and then came here.

Well, they say he quit
his country's army

because of the Spanish
annexation of Santo Domingo.

I'd prefer that the one
governing us, ruling upon us

be a Cuban, not a foreigner.

Why? You don't trust him?

No, it's not distrust.

Who knows if this man
wouldn't someday have the idea

of, you know, changing sides?
-I don't think so.

Because he's a man
that wouldn't had left his house

to come here

to fight and

I'm sure that

well, that he's a loyal man
because I've seen it.

I think this is all for a deceit.
We were told to saddle the horses.

It seems to me like we'll trick them.

The idea didn't come
from Gen. Marmol, I've been told,

but from a Dominican colonel.

I think he's called Gómez.

He's about 30.

Sort of tall.

Black haired.

He has

hawk eyes and a hawk face

and rides a big horse.

He has a estate by El Dátil

and there he works farming by himself.

Palma made him a sargeant
and sent him with Céspedes.

Céspedes in turn sent him
here with Donato Mármol

with a letter and the colonel degree.

They say at Santo Domingo

they fight at combats
with the machete

so I think he must have
some experience at that.

When Donato Mármol read the letter

he said "bosses abound already".

Thanks to his father-in-law,
Tońito Milanés...

Tell me.

-Come here!
-What's the matter? Any problem?

No.

Sorry.

Where was I?

The letter from Tońito Milanés.
You were talking about Tońito Milanés.

Oh, yes, right, his father-in-law
Tońito Milanés

told him that we actually
had no idea about war.

And that's true

and Gómez did have experience,
like I told you before.

Hey, what about the
four or five men you called?

Oh, right.

-Let's go! Five men!
-Sorry.

So Mármol told him
to hold back the Spanish column.

Oh yes, he told him

to hold back the Spanish
column coming to Bayamo

and also told him

to stay at the vanguard and
offered him 200 of his best men.

Well, he took only 40 men

who were mostly acquaintances of him.

Lazo Baque, the Viera brothers.

Look, there he goes.

To kill or be killed,

so goes this soldier of life.

For weapon, carries a machete.

For time, a farewell.

They're forty men
with a cutting edge,

forty denied palms.

They're four hundred reasons
to kill the enemy.

They're four thousand machetes

cutting the air and the flesh.

They're the voice against silence,
truths against lies.

Truths against lies.

October 25, 1868

The rebels prepare an ambush
decisive for the defense of Bayamo.

The forces of Gen. Donato Mármol

stand in the place
known as Venta del Pino

about a mile from Baire.

The Col. Máximo Gómez and his people

stand between both points.

Only remains to drive the Spanish
troops of Quiroz out of Baire.

Like bait on a trap

Mármol makes himself noticed.

Lets them see him.

October 25, 1868

During the late hours of the morning

the first charge of the machete
will take place.

To the machete!

When we wandered

lonely in a time

with no present.

When even the tree
refused to share

its scent seconded
by ancient whispers.

When the creek, far away,
among shadows

turned into sadness

to let the enemy die of thirst.

When we wandered

lonely in a time with no present.

We had to rescue the ages of life.

Then we had to fight
on the machete's edge.

Then we had to kill
on the machete's edge.

Win a thousand battles
on the machete's edge

which we are delivering today.