In the past decade, Latin America has witnessed the emergence of a new generation of democratically-elected left-wing leaders who in most cases have already made history just by winning the presidential elections of their countries. Moreover, and by breaking up with local political inertias, these leaders have helped establish a new political landscape throughout the region. Seen from afar, this political phenomenon appears to have given rise to a homogenous and consistent regional block, however most of these leaders have emerged from the diverse and some times conflicting traditions of the Left in Latin America and from disparate local contexts.
Cinema Tropical has created ¡Revolución! The New Latin American Left an original film series presenting seven documentary films about most of these leaders -nearly all of which made during their electoral campaigns. The aim is to open a constructive and engaging dialogue about the similarities, differences, challenges, and risks of the variegated expressions of the contemporary Left in Latin America, while discussing the immediate and long-term future of the region.
Programmed by Carlos A. Gutiérrez and organized in collaboration with Alejandra Leal.
VENEZUELA:
THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED
| A film by Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain| Ireland, 2007, 74 min. In Spanish with English subtitles
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a powerful and dramatic film about the charismatic and controversial Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez. It charts the seven-months run-up to the dramatic attempt to overthrow him in April 2002 and provides an eyewitness account of the coup d'etat and the extraordinary return to power of Chávez some 48 hours later. Unique footage of Chávez, a divisive and polarizing political icon, is assembled in this stirring documentary.
BRAZIL:
ENTREATOS | INTERMISSIONS
Entreatos follows Brazilian candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the last leg of his fourth presidential bid in 2002 with unanticipated insight into the behind-the-scenes of this man's life, his family and his campaign. Entreatos shows us a sophisticated political polyglot, documenting his increasing moderation in order to appeal to a wider part of the electorate, and thus also revealing some the Brazilian political and social backgrounds that made him win the election.
ARGENTINA:
YO PRESIDENTE
An unapologetic and unflinching historical summary of Argentina's recent political past presented through direct interviews with practically all Argentinean presidents since the country's return to democracy in 1983. Starring Carlos Menem, Fernando de la Rúa and Eduardo Duhalde, among others, Yo Presidente offers a sardonic, and at times hopeless, perspective of those in charge.
CHILE:
LA HIJA DEL GENERAL | THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER
| A film by María Elena Wood| Chile/Spain, 2006, 59 min. In Spanish with English subtitles
In 2006 Michelle Bachelet made history by becoming Chile's first woman president, despite being a socialist, single mother and agnostic in arguably one of South America's most conservative nations. Filmmaker María Elena Wood spent one year following Bachelet as she traveled through Chile on the campaign trail. Through the letters written by her late father, a general in the Chilean Air Force imprisoned after Pinochet seized power in 1973, we learn the trajectory of a middle-class Chilean family profoundly marked by the collapse of democracy. The General's Daughter tells the story of Michelle Bachelet's life, her surprising journey along the road to the presidency and documents a series of experiences that are emblematic to Chile's recent history.
BOLIVIA:
COCALERO
Born out of the US War on Drugs, an Aymara indian named Evo Morales ‚ backed by a troop of coca leaf farmers ‚ travels through Andes and Amazon in jeans and sneakers, leading a historic bid to become Boliviaís first indigenous president. Traveling alongside Morales and the Movement to Socialism party (MAS) as they campaign through remote mining towns and far-away peasant villages, Cocalero reveals scenery as diverse and fractured as the countryís people, painting a vivid picture of a political phenomenon while raising an open historical question.
MEXICO:
FRAUDE: MEXICO 2006
A controversial documentary feature film from acclaimed director Luis Mandoki, Fraude, MÈxico 2006 follows the most recent presidential election in Mexico, which polarized the country and has continued to haunt the local political landscape. The film recapitulates ‚using in some instances footage from ordinary citizensómany of the irregularities, inconsistencies and misdeeds before, during and after this very contested election that ultimately raised issues about its validity and fairness.
