[mobglob-discuss] 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'

[michael a. lebowitz]

Dear Friends and Comrades,
         Let me suggest that you keep an eye out for "The Revolution Will 
Not Be Televised", a powerful and moving new documentary by Kim Bartley 
which details events leading up to the coup in Venezuela last April and 
then has incredible footage covering: the planning of the coup, its 
execution, the murders on the street immediately before, what was happening 
inside Miraflores during the coup, the response of the people and the army, 
and the return of the elected government and Chavez to Miraflores. What 
this film especially makes clear is who the enemies of the Bolivarian 
Revolution were (and are), and how they function.
         Kim (who let a few folks see it when in Caracas last week--- it 
won't be shown publicly here for a while) indicates that the reaction to 
its world premiere last week at a film festival was quite powerful, and 
that the film has now been picked up by HBO and by an international 
distributor. It's not clear yet when HBO, the BBC and CBC (all of whom are 
committed to show it) will broadcast "The Revolution Will Not Be 
Televised", but it's likely that it will be before or on the anniversary of 
the coup on 11 April. She indicates that the definite showing times are:

>RTE, Ireland, Network 2, Saturday March 15th 9.30pm
>Arte, France & Germany, March 16th, 8.30pm
>The old Egyptian theatre, Los Angeles, Sunday 16th March, not sure of the
>time.
>SXSW film festival, Austin Texas, screening today and again next wednesday I
>think (website is www.sxsw.com)
>The rest of the dates for europe, BBC and HBO need to be checked with the
>office but they're not in today so I'll forward them as soon as possible.
>We also will have a website up and runing in the next few days at:
>chavezthefilm.com (right now there's a guide page but we hope to have the
>reall thing up and runing asap).

[The showing in Hollywood on the 15th is at 6:30]
         An interview from last year with Kim follows.
                 in solidarity,
                   mike

>================================
>
>IRISH FILMMAKER'S
>EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF
>VENEZUELAN COUP D'ÉTAT
>
>Michael McCaughan speaks to Kim Bartley,
>who witnessed last weekend's coup attempt
>in Venezuela
>
>Reprinted from
>Irish Times 16 April 2002
>[Posted 18 April 2002]
>
>(Thanks to Karl Sanchez for this article)
>=======================================
>Ms Kim Bartley and Mr Donnacha O'Brien have spent
>the past three months filming a documentary on
>Venezuelan President Mr Hugo Chavez for Power
>Productions, an independent film company based
>in Galway.
>
>"I arrived in the centre of town just as the shooting
>started," says Kim. "I filmed a while then took cover in a
>doorway. Whoever was firing aimed directly at the crowd,
>which was pro-Chavez. I filmed two dead bodies, both of
>them beside the podium set up to rally Chavistas to
>defend the presidential palace.
>
>"A woman working in the vice-president's office identified
>the bodies as a legal secretary and an archivist, both
>working inside the building. A 10-year-old girl was then
>taken away, fatally injured.
>
>"More shots. We ran for cover like everyone else.
>We made it to the palace through back streets as the firing
>continued and as soon as we got in the gate another
>sniper started aiming at the crowd. We were all thrown
>to the ground behind a wall and later ran for cover into
>the building. Three of the snipers were arrested . . .
>"Chavez was about to explain what was happening
>in a live television broadcast but the state channel's
>signal was cut just as he began to speak.
>
>"The army generals arrived and went off for a meeting with
>Chavez. The evening passed in a flash as we waited for
>news inside the presidential palace. A tearful Environmental
>Minister, Ms Analisa Osorio, emerged in the early hours of
>Friday, announcing the end of an era. 'He's under arrest,'
>she said. Chavez emerged, barely visible with all the
>bodyguards and junta soldiers jostling both to protect and
>arrest him.
>
>"The atmosphere turned ugly. Radio and television
>immediately announced the resignation of Chavez and
>began broadcasting upbeat messages: 'Venezuela is
>finally free' was the banner across all private TV channels.
>
>"The government went into hiding. Everyone fled for their
>lives. The witch-hunt began. We decided not to go home,
>checking into a hotel instead, for safety . . .
>
>"The media kept repeating footage of the swearing-in
>ceremony of the interim president [Pedro Carmona] which
>was followed by images of empty streets, everything in
>perfect tranquillity. We were about to book a ticket to
>Panama when a well-dressed passer-by told us to get
>off the streets. 'The Chavistas are coming' he said.
>It was Saturday afternoon.
>
>"We took a taxi to the centre, where huge crowds had
>surrounded the palace, demanding the return of Chavez.
>We managed to get inside and found several Chavez
>deputies calling round the country to find out what was
>going on. A dozen people who were working for the
>interim government had been taken to a room in the
>basement for their own safety.
>
>"Reports came in from around the country, barracks by
>barracks, like a Eurovision song contest jury, that the
>military was rebelling against the coup. Then came the
>rumours that a commando had been sent to kill Chavez
>at the army base where he was being kept.
>
>"The television continued to broadcast a steady diet of soap
>operas, saying nothing about the huge mobilisation, which
>was now making a deafening racket outside. Then came the
>news that Chavez had been freed and was taking a helicopter
>to Miraflores. The crowds went wild. The presidential guard
>made a tunnel from the palace gates to a helicopter pad
>across the street. The sound of choppers buzzing overhead.
>
>"Then he was there, striding toward the palace, mobbed by
>supporters. It was like a dream, it's still hard to believe
>it really happened."
>
>© The Irish Times * Reprinted for Fair Use Only

---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

Currently based in Cuba. Can be reached via:

Michael Lebowitz
c/o MEPLA
Calle 13 No. 504 ent. D y E, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Codigo Postal 10 4000
(537) 33 30 75 or 832  21 54
telefax: (537) 33 30 75 
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