The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - en film som visar den misslyckade kuppen mot Chavez
Engelsk beskrivning
This RTÉ True Lives documentary, which broadcast to wide audience acclaim in
February, was acclaimed by an international jury as "the best television programme
in the world this year" - against competition that included Hollywood's West
Wing and major drama and current affairs from BBC and CBS.
The Venezuelan people welcome their new President Chavez in a land where oil wealth has not helped massive indigenous inequality - the poor make up 80% of the population. The US is "hopeful" that this new leader of the world's 4th largest oil exporter wouldn't be around along. These recorded events start 7 months before an attempted coup.
Chavez tells of his revolutionary heritage, sharing Simon Bolivar's dream of freeing the people from outside domination and exploitation of those in power. Ordinary people organise themselves into local community groups to focus on community issues and popular education. In the past the political system offered them nothing. However, the upperclass continues to pour scorn on the people "people of no values or education", "don't know what hard work is", "we're not giving up what we have", "revolution is out-of-date", "its important to keep an eye on your domestic servants"! All said with a straight face, fine clothes and perfect makeup. The opposition head to Washington where the CIA share their concern, and suddenly a group of Venezuelan army generals become a voice of their concern.
The opposition organise a mass march with the help of privately owned TV chanels. The marchers don't know that they are part of a bigger plan. Chavez supporters similarly gather in solidarity outside the Presidental Palace, and then the oppposition break the law and change their route to also go to the Palace to confront Chavez supporters. With the army acting as a buffer, all of a sudden shots ring out from nowhere, hitting people in the head. Someone has placed snipers to fire on the crowd. Notice the media manilpulation to attempt to blame the shooting on Chavez supporters, who are firing on the hidden snipers. This is effective in sowing complete confusion and fear.
An attempt is made on State TV Channel to get the message out that the firing didn't come from Chavez supporters. As this message is being broadcast the signal is cut to stop this broadcast. This effectively isolates the government and leaves private media to broadcast. Tanks surround the Palace, who will bomb the palace and the people inside if Chavez does not resign. In this media blackout, few expected an Irish filmcrew was there to capture it all!
The plan was revealed the next day on TV by a coup general, the opposition march was key to getting the army to act "when things reached their peak to activate the army". Suddenly the CIA's wishes seem to have come true!
The coup leaders take power and dissolve the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and dismiss the Attorney General and the head of the Central Bank ... to name but a few! What hadn't been planned was the people taking to the streets even with riot police firing on them. The news from Washington - it was all the fault of Chavez! Watch the tactics used outside the Cuban Embassy and the media control order not to show Chavez supporters on TV. However, the word spreads quickly that Chavez did not resign but was captured. The extensive education programs mean that people now actually know this is against the Constitution. The people now know they demand better, and rise up against the coup, police brutality and its blanket media censorship! When the Palace Guard see this, they themselves move into action.
The Palace Guard detain members of the coup government, but the ringleaders manage to escape (but not before they empty the safe!). The people who have resisted this coup to protect their new freedom celebrate when they see the Palace Guard on the roof. The lawful government returns from hiding. This is no provisional government, Chavez is still President although taken captive and kept hidden. The State TV channel is taken back but technical difficulties delay broadcasting. Meanwhile, the private channels have the coup leader reporting via phone that everything is fine, just a minor scuffle - barefaced lies showing the power of the media! News comes in that the detained Chavez is to be flown away from Venezuela in a last bid to remove the rightful democratic government so feared by the US.
The immediate order goes out to the coup leaders to preserve Chavez's life, while 3 units of commandos are dispatched to bring him back. Full military control is back with the government. Chavez is brought back from his captivity and in amongst everything he still has time to chat with the Irish TV crew and even crack a few jokes. Chavez's first act is to appeal for calm and for people to return home. To those who oppose him he says thats fine, but you cannot oppose the democratic constitution - "this is the people's book".
More information at chavezthefilm.com