This short documentary revisits the extraordinary life and legacy of Wifredo Lam (1902–1982)—the Cuban artist who bridged continents, cultures, and movements.
Through the words of his son, curators, and a conservator, Lam’s story unfolds across some of the most turbulent moments of the 20th century: from his time fighting in the Spanish Civil War, to Paris where he met important collaborators—Pablo Picasso and the Surrealists—before having to flee the Nazis, to his return to Cuba. It was there that he radically reimagined his artistic project, starting with his best-known painting, “The Jungle.”
Featuring rare images of his studio, archival footage, personal reflections, and intimate commentary, this film reveals how Lam’s identity and political convictions shaped a visionary art that spoke to exile, colonialism, spirituality, and resilience.
Watch to explore how Wifredo Lam redefined what it means to create, find kinship, and resist injustice through art.