During the old days of the Soviet regime, one of the most salient features seen of the public under communism was the telltale sadness in the faces of the people. I remember asking a Soviet diplomat about this during the days of the Cold War and recall his defensive lying – ‘The people are contented,’ he insisted. Then I saw the sadness in his face too as he spoke to me. Someone else I recall said that people in Soviet communist regime always look like they are about to cry.

It is the same story in Cuba. The Real Cuba has compiled a photo essay of the telltale sad faces of Cuba in the unwitting pictures of people on the streets. It’s a distinctive expression, and you can especially see it in the collective faces of random groups. If it were the same group of people waiting for the F train on the New York subway, there would not be the same homogenity of expressions.

The photo essay is here.