[van-announce] Sept.30: Premiere of John Pilger's War on Democracy

[Derrick O'Keefe]

*Please forward widely*

North American Premiere of The War on Democracy 
Directed By: John Pilger

Sunday, Sept. 30th 9:15pm
at the Ridge Theatre (Arbutus at 16th Ave)

Sponsored by StopWar.ca.

Veteran reporter John Pilger describes The War On
Democracy as his most positive film to date, a strange
thing to say about a documentary that systematically
itemizes the appalling legacy of US involvement in
Latin American affairs. Still, for all the
heart-rending personal testimony, chilling archive
footage and images of grinding poverty, there is a
note of cautious optimism, in a powerful work that
suggests the real Land of the Free is to be found in
Uncle Sam's back yard.

Pilger's selective tactic is to report from three
South American countries where people-power and
popular movements have challenged the historic sway of
vested imperialist interests. Thus we see President
Hugo Chávez use Venezuela's vast oil wealth to fund
social programs, in the teeth of ferocious right-wing
opposition and an unsuccessful Washington-backed coup;
Bolivians fighting back against the grasping
multinationals who have seized their water supply; and
ordinary Chileans rebuilding their lives after decades
of torture and tyranny. Along the way we also hear
from ex-CIA chief Duane Clarridge, whose contemptuous
riposte to Pilger's criticisms ('Get used to it,
world!') tells us everything we need to know about
Bush's idea of "freedom.'"--BBC

"[This is] powerfully argued stuff, benefiting from a
warmly sympathetic interview with President Hugo
Chávez, counterpointed by the pantomime creepiness of
representatives of the CIA and their ilk... Heartfelt,
sincere, and often enlightening viewing."--The
Observer

Second screening:

Saturday, Oct 6th 1:00pm
Visa Screening Room
@ Empire Granville Th7

Tickets: Charge-by-Phone line at 1-604-685-8297, or
visit viff.org/

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