Inside the Revolution: A Journey into the Heart of Venezuela

Synopsis

The film begins by situating the rise of Hugo Chavez within the context of a history of political turmoil in Venezuela beginning with the fall of the Marcos Pérez Jiménez dictatorship in 1958 and climaxing with the popular uprising known as the Caracazo in 1989. From there the film charts the trajectory of Hugo Chavez's presidency through its infamous conflicts with the opposition, the failed coup attempt in 2002 and the series of reforms, Chavez's supporters believe, promote a protagonistic democracy along socialist principles. In the final part the film examines in closer detail the opinions and tensions within the movement regarding Chavez, US imperialism and what the future holds for Venezuela. In particular the film focuses on whether the Bolivarian Revolution represents a real alternative to capitalism or will suffer the same fate of previous socialist experiments.

Reviews

21st Century Socialism described it as a "valuable contribution to a more balanced and deeper understanding of Venezuela’s process of radical change."

Derek Wall commended the film for displacing "Hugo from his pedestal" and putting the Venezuelan people at the centre, "especially those excluded from influence".

Joe Cushnan in The Tribune commended the film's "balanced appraisal of a President and a country".

Richard Seymour (writer) writes that the film provides a very real sense of just "how much the workers and poor believe the revolution to be theirs... it is that very old-fashioned idea, of socialism from below, that gives the documentary its most hopeful and critical edge."

David Wearing in The Samosa praised the film's "serious, insightful and thought-provoking review" of the Bolivarian revolution and "admirable willingness" to let the poorest "tell their own story."

Screenings

Since the film's release in August 2009 it has been shown in various cities around the United Kingdom. It was one of the films featured at the Media and Conflict Documentary Film Festival held at the National Media Museum. The film has also been shown in various countries in Latin America beginning with a screening at the Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile. The film debuted in the United States on 2 December 2009 at Eastern Connecticut State University with subsequent showings at Yale University, Harvard University, Clark University and the Queens Museum of Art. On 6 December 2009 the film was shown at the Brecht Forum with an introduction by Gregory Wilpert.