Oliver Stone’s sure-to-be-controversial South of the Border documentary debuts at the Venice Film Festival Monday. Here’s the trailer:
Now, I’m all for a more nuanced understanding of South American politics, particularly where foreign policy and economic strategy converge (neeerrrdddd), but I’m not particularly optimistic that that’s what we have here. Should Americans have richer understanding of who Hugo Chavez is, what his policies are, and how his leadership is affecting Latin America? Absolutely. But Stone recently described the Venezuelan president “open and warmhearted and big,”and I wonder, even among those who agree with Stone that Chavez is “demonized” in the United States, how many want to see him valorized instead.
PopWatchers, will you see South of the Border?
How any slightly educated person can look up to Hugo Chavez and make a documentary excusing his step by step increase of power to ultimately become a totalitarian leader is just beyond me. Chavez is a thug, plain and simple and it embarrasses me that someone like Stone would make such an uneducated piece of propoganda for him.
Have you been to Venezuela or Bolivia? Hugo Chavez is democratically elected, and has been democratically elected innumerable times by the people of Venezuela (which is more than can be said of the previous American president). He has survived a U.S planned coup d’etat, and is now nationalizing the country’s resources, the revenue of which goes towards implementing social programs for the poor, not lining the pockets of multi-nationals. It is a step by step removal of power from the hands of the U.S, who should not determine another nations future, should not have control over their natural resources, or their democratic process. Not quite how Fox News depicts it in their game-show, but how refreshing.
You too sip the Chavez Koolaide and are oblivious to the fact that he controls everything in Venezuela. He has done 20% of the amount of good for the poor that he could have, but is too busy spreading his Bolivarian Revolution while he country men are still very poor. He is all about “Poder” and nothing else!
Listen to kendal he is right… it is true what he says… I have verified it and so have many American intellectuals like Chomsky, Zinn, Parenti… Larry who has written that we are oblivious… it appears he is looking at his own reflection in the mirror. Larry you need to educate yourself on the evils of Capitalism… Chavez reaches out to his poor, educates them, and gives relief that they never got under the US back aristocracy… the same thugs who tried to take him out with the US backing them as kendal points out.
Capitalism is the thug… Chavez was elected by the people… they receive more benefits under Chavez than they did under the US backed aristocracy… You people who want to demonize him have been hypnotized by your Capitalist leanings… which exploits the working class… and wants cheaper and cheaper labor from you… why do you think American’s are having such a hard time now finding work. Wake up America… You have been brained washed to think Socialism is a nasty word….
Can’t believe I just wasted 4 minutes watching that garbage it was cute watching them kick the soccer ball around though!
Shame on Stone.
I love the idea of the film and i think it is worth seeing with an open mind. I don’t judge movies on 4 minute clips, but it seems to repeat a common problem with Stone’s films as well as Michael Moore’s in that when you present yourself as an neo-liberal leftist than those are the only people who are going to listen to your views. I don’t think putting himself in front of the camera was the right idea, it seems a little self indulgent.
The only difference between Michael Moore and Oliver Stone, is that Moore films documentaries about americans and their issues, Stone films documentaries… sorry, propaganda of pseudo-leaders that sale him a sack of lies and he doesn’t even take the time to confirm if it is true or not (since he’s being taken to the places they have ready to impress him) and tries to sell the image of a great “honest”, humble leader.
Any Venezuelan can destroy the reputation of this documentary at any time with real and strong facts that everything he shows and they say in it is “BS”
Name 1 B.S. about what any of the S. American leaders said in this clip. It’s a challenge.
Otherwise, you’re the one filled with B.S.
If what you say is true Mr. Venezulan… then why did the people elect his… and why did they surround the Palace when the US backed coup tried to take him out? You must be a Capitalist!
What an idiot. Oliver Stone is just eating up everything that Hugo Chavez tells him. Of course he seems “warm and bighearted.” That’s the image he’s trying to get across. But, his actions speak for themselves.
REALMENTE, DAN PENA TODOS ESTOS BIPOLARES, EN SU MAYORIA NO LLEGAN SIQUIERA A LA CLASE MEDIA ALTA, PERO SUEÑAN Y LLEGAN A VIEJITOS Y VIEJITAS TODOS AMARGADOS, SIN EMBARGO LOS PUEBLOS AUTENTICOS QUE ESTAN DESPERTANDO VIVEN UNA ALEGRIA QUE JAMAS HABIAN VIVIDO…VIVA HUGO RAFAEL CHAVEZ FRIAS…EL NUEVO LIDER MUNDIAL DE LOS PAISES OPRIMIDOS DE NUESTRA AMERICA INDIA!!!A LOS DEMAS LES ACONSEJO SU PROSAC..jORGE
Eres un buen troll Jorge, lograste ser hiperbólico e incoherente en un mismo comentario sin añadir nada constructivo a la discusion…Bravo!
What a dork! Go to cuba and stay there!
Why you dont go to haiti, thanks to USA it is the poorest contry of America. Thanks usa people that support the lobby for some dollars.
Jorge, como se nota que estas comiendo tu sabes que de la mano de chavez. Y el bolsa de Oliver Stone va para Venezuela a turistear con Chavez y hace un documental de su lindo viaje! que bonito! por que no le muestran la realidad del pais? porque eso no es lo que quiere Chavez… Me hago encima de la risa con la ignorancia de todos los tales socialistas del mundo, esperando que los gobiernos hagan todo por ellos!!
I’m quite looking forward to seeing Oliver Stone’s film “South of the Border” … certainly Hugo Chavez has been Demonized by the US Commercial Media, which unfortunately is to be expected ….
As A Venezuelan citizen I’m looking foward to see it as well, he’s a very controversial and also a very contradictory political figure and while I agree that he has been demonized by the US Media I have my concerns whether this film will go to the other unnecessary extreme and go soft on him trying to portrait him under a good light only, which I think is just as bad…but again this is only a 4 min. trailer so we’ll have to wait and see…
Iwant to see the film. How do I see it?
Thats a great film. recently got a copy of it(dont ask how)… Viva Chávez.
you a leftist, communist, dummass that a kiss ass like all the rest of u leftist god bliss u all
I don’t understand how Oliver Stone dares to do a film about Chavez??? It does not make any sense. Why doesn’t live in Venezuela with the poor people and go deep into what is going on inside the country. Chavez outside the country is one thing but when he goes back home is another person. Is this the kind of government that he would like to have in the US??????
what a waste of film reel only leftist, communist would enjoy this movie and for u who said viva chavez u r a fxxk head thats all.
You are obviously a lesser mind
You obviously are not very intelligent, that is why i sort of pity you. Your conservative, ill equipped mind would never be able to understand Latin American politics let alone understand even US politics, which is a far less developed voice of democracy. Most likely you have had a poor educational experience throughout your life and that is why I sort of pity you, Thanks for drawing attention to the the world how there are still many underprivileged individuals in this country such as yourself
Hugo Chavez is a ppig.
‘…wonder, even among those who agree with Stone that Chavez is “demonized” in the United States, how many want to see him valorized instead.’
Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!
It never ceases to amaze those of us who live in the “third world” about American arrogance. Enjoy the ride while it lasts – you are coming down! You can’t live on credit forever, and soon you’ll have to work like the rest of the world. Hail Chavez!