IRISH PREMIERE

Clearly frustrated by the half-truths and sensationalistic tone adopted by the U.S. right-wing media (Fox News, in particular) when reporting on South America, Oliver Stone’s documentary on the politics of the region can be read as a rebuttal of sorts. He begins his political tour in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez, whose election is seen by many as a turning point in the recent political history of South America, before moving on to speak to the leaders of Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. What each has in common is a desire for independence, equality, and freedom from the International Monetary Fund and U.S. economic control. Tariq Ali’s informed comments lend the film additional weight, but it’s very much Stone’s film. Not always subtle, perhaps, but an entertaining and thought-provoking film examining a historic period in South American politics.