The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

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Ratings: 8.57/10 from 46 users.

The Revolution Will Not Be TelevisedThe Revolution Will Not Be Televised (a.k.a. Chavez: Inside the Coup) is a 2002 documentary about the April 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt which briefly deposed Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

A television crew from Ireland's Radio Telifís Éireann happened to be recording a documentary about Chávez during the events of April 11, 2002.

Shifting focus, they followed the events as they occurred. During their filming, the crew recorded images of the events that they say contradict explanations given by Chávez opposition, the private media, the US State Department, and then White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

The documentary says that the coup was the result of a conspiracy between various old guard and anti-Chávez factions within Venezuela and the United States. (Excerpt from en.wikipedia.org)

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apollo
apollo
3 years ago

The only thing good that can be said about Chavez is that he's gone! I hope Maduro follows him soon.

Francisco
Francisco
10 years ago

Like Hugo Chávez This documentary is nothing but a fiasco.
It shows how the truth can be easily manipulated and make us believe that the black is white and the salt is sweet.
I am Venezuelan and know first hand how things are in Venezuela and still admit this documentary is very convincent even when I know there are a lot of lies in it.
The confusion comes from the way they mix lies with truth to make it credible.

There is another document that contest the credibility of this one.
That is the real truth of what happened and not this one.

You can easily fin it in google.. Type "the revolution will not be televised lies"... It will come up. It's in Spanish but with English subtitles.
I am sorry to disappoint the ones that believe this was an extraordinary documentary but the truth is that this is not more than a lot of rubbish

dancingroads
dancingroads
11 years ago

RIP Chavez. Venezuela, South America and the world are poorer places without you. May your legacy live on comrade.

GaiaHeart
GaiaHeart
11 years ago

Great documentary! Thanks for sharing!

The small scale battles between voices in the comments below are unneccesary. Freedom of speech is a blessing, however, just because we have freedom of speech does not mean that we should abuse it... or abuse eachother with it. Belittling one another, especially in public eyes, is to gain a false sense of power while destroying the unity between one another as attempts are made to position oneself as superior in some way. We are all students and teachers for each other.

If it's a debate of facts, then so be it. However, respect is key to peace, as it is the minimal form of love which we must have between people in order to maintain unity. Has empathy hurt anyone?

:) Love

qwertyqw
qwertyqw
12 years ago

I like the comment by the newly installed leader about the "profoundly democratic" process o_0

qwertyqw
qwertyqw
12 years ago

I liked the line by the newly installed leader, that the process was "profoundly democratic" o_O

Francesca Fini
Francesca Fini
12 years ago

carmole left an empty safe ;)

Francesca Fini
Francesca Fini
12 years ago

this is an extraordinary documentary

Cameron Curtis
Cameron Curtis
13 years ago

Pierre did you take the time to click on the link to the article giving some (admittedly brief) stats about those murder rates, and the rest of the links? Did Chavez end up losing the heavily rigged election? Sure, Venezuela hasn´t arrived at fully-fledged Castro-style totalitarianism, but the point is you can bet on the fact that that's exactly what Chavez is aiming for. Do you think it's fine that he constantly attempts to change the Venezuelan constitution so that he can stay in power as long as he likes? Do you think it's fine that he closes down and censures media outlets and journalists that dare to question his government? Why do you think the NGO Reporters Without Borders criticise his government's conduct re: persecuting dissenting voices in the Venezuelan media?

I am biased - I have a bias against idiots. Don´t think I´ll waste any more time arguing the point with you.

Kev Lovski
Kev Lovski
13 years ago

Erm, the venezuela elections have been examined everytime since chavez has been in power by outside parties and are always fair. The tv is all owned by his enemies and is pure propaganda against his rule for the corporate owned and rich side of the country. I don't think you've lived there.

cam curtis
cam curtis
13 years ago

I suppose you people extolling Chavez's virtues as some kind of people's hero are probably similarly convinced about the saintliness of his proclaimed mentor Castro. Anyone believing the propaganda about these two power-hungry dictators is completely deluded. Have you actually BEEN to these countries and seen the reality or are you just basing your opinions on the nice warm feeling you get thinking that the citizens who live under their oppressive regimes are living in some kind of blissful paradise?

If you´re thrilled with the idea of having a president who crushes free speech and media, seeks to imprison/silence/persecute any dissenting voice, rigs elections, ignores human rights, heavily censors internet access, repeatedly attempts to change the constitution to allow him to stay in power indefinitely, drives his desperately poor population further into misery while still banging on about being 'for the people' etc. etc. then I invite you to go live in Venezuela.

Ever heard the term 'useful idiots'? Look it up. They did wonders for Stalin. And if my tone is a little acidic, it's because, being of the left politically, it's a little hard to sit here reading moronic comments hailing dictators like Chavez as some kind of hero.

adrian kelly
adrian kelly
13 years ago

I guess I'm kinda proud it was an Irish TV crew who witnessed and covered the tumultus events as they unfolded in Venezuelan, but I'm ashamed to say, I never saw it broadcast on our national airways over here in Ireland.
This brings me to the conclusion, the greatest threat to civilization, is privately controlled media worldwide. Until this scourge is removed, we will remain in blind ignorance and bondage.
Viva Chavez!

Abdul
Abdul
13 years ago

Stimulus money was not given to the struggling Americans it was given to big banks owned by rich folks, yes, yes, but giving money to the poor doesn't make a country stronger. You rather give it to the industries that shape the millitary power of the country right. Socialism fails because people are lazy by nature.

So yes, stimulus for the rich and for big companies and banks that make America strong...what will poor do with the money? Breed more poor people? I make donation to the poor but in a competitive world, you have to be practical. Socialism failed, history has shown it. It seems poetic and nice what Chavez is doing, but I don't think even himself he believes that works.

However, one disagreement I have with America: People have the right to choose how to run their country! If they want socialism, for bloody sake let them have, don't interfere because you are afraid of a "domino effect" that will surround you with a socialist world. That has always been a fundamental flaw of America; flawed foreign policy.

Richie
Richie
13 years ago

Do not listen to so-called Venezuelans on here or elsewhere on the net, they are either US payed agents or they are part of the old Venezuelan ruling class who had to lose *some* of their ill gotten gains to help the poor.

Dan
Dan
13 years ago

Viva Chavez!

Jammal
Jammal
13 years ago

Great documentary!! Viva Chavez

anthony
anthony
13 years ago

I agree with some of your points Manuel and am perfectly aware of the situation with the CNE. you are Venezuelan and entitled to criticize the regime. Indeed, Chavez is known for pandering to the masses, he is a populist for sure. However, Chavez would not be in power if neo-liberal policies had not created a substantial gap between rich and poor in the first place. In effect, these inequalities created a reaction that allowed him into power.

Consider this, laissez faire capitalism is great in theory, everybody has the chance to earn as much money as they want, free from state interference. This sounds fantastic! In practice nevertheless it is so much different. The people that don’t have the cultural and social capital the wealth creates are left behind to live on the scraps given to them by the ruling class.

Chavez is not a saint, my god no politician is, socialism is also flawed as a system. We are still looking for the perfect system and may never find it; the greatest minds are yet to figure that conundrum out. However, it is trying to reduce the gap between rich and poor and this cannot be a bad thing, in a world that sees profit as the ultimate goal.

Manuel
Manuel
13 years ago

I am venezuelan. For all of you out there, socialism as an idea is great. As a political and economic system is a complete failure. At least in Venezuela.

One more thing, Chavez tried to overthrow a democracy in 1992, he surrendered while his friends fought and died. He speaks ill of everyone or everybody that doesnt share his ideas. For those of you that dont know, he redraws the electoral circuits before elections and controls the CNE (electoral national counsel),which is the organization that counts the votes and gives election results.

I understand that the concept and idea sounds great, that is why he has followers, but until you are here to live it and see it, you wont understand.

anthony
anthony
13 years ago

chavez is a doing a brave thing. in effect he is creating a democracy that is bottom up rather than top down. lets hope power does not currupt the regime. that would be a pity.

Atte Mede
Atte Mede
13 years ago

Venezeula is a sovereign nation entitled to self determination. Whether their leader is elected democratically or not, no nation has legitimate authority to interfere with anothers' internal affairs.

bambi
bambi
13 years ago

I'm simply worried of how he's spending his country's incoming wealth.

Alex N
Alex N
14 years ago

Look, if we take the the broad strokes behind this documentary to be true, there's no doubt that Chavez defends the interests of the majority of the people of Venezuela. This is democracy. Sure a large group of poorly educated people are in the end choosing a path toward isolation and ignoring the laws of global economics, but who the f@#$ are you to tell them otherwise?

They are the most shining example of this democracy that developed countries so often claim to "export". We must, no matter how sour the short run loss in economic opportunities, allow the people's will to run its course. I think in say 20 years, we'll have another China on our hands, secretly resorting to all the dirty capitalist tricks the rest of us use to develop. Don't worry, soon we'll all have hybrid cars with ipod docs.

Phil Atio
Phil Atio
14 years ago

I never understood why the us is so concerned when 3rd world countries decide that they want to start praticing socialism. Is it any surprise that countries where 80-90% of the people eat mud and 10% live like us, or substantially better, that the majority would want a hand in the wealth?

It becomes apparent that the US does not oppose Chavez, or Castro, or any other so called dictator because they are bad or evil. I mean Russia and China are the 2 biggest human rights abusers around after USA who spies on its citizens, thank you very much Bush and OBAMA=patriot act. They oppose any candidate who wants to take wealth from the rich and give some of it to the poor because it is obvious that the poor and middle class americans would follow. Wouldn't that be something. those rich super bankers, lawyers or bilderbergers would not like to give up there money to poor people, so they want all poor people to stop making babies, because the more poor people there are, the more likely they are to revolt against the rich. the more likely a hugo chavez emerges.

Ed
Ed
14 years ago

A great documentary...
Well Hugo Chavez has been in power for twelve years now, and the people (A true democrasy, not a coup) have voted him in every time. Unlike Carmona and his dissaffected Generals.

Constitution over military rule anytime. Chavez showed his leadership qualities by not trying those conspirators for treason. Something the coup would never have done. Shame on the private Venezuelan media. Shame on the self-interested oligarchs under Carmona, and ultimate shame on Ari Fleischer and the US govt for lying and meddling in other democratic countries affairs yet again. I suspect they only believe in real democrasy when it's on White House terms.

Rodrigo
Rodrigo
14 years ago

I'm venezuelan, I lived in there all my live until I moved to Ireland a year ago. I can tell you that the documentary is fair and well balanced, the coup was backed by the media and people were killed in order to help the fall of the government. But tough Chavez politics are oriented to help the mayority of Venezuelans, the corruption, opposition, all sources of selfish interests, and failed programs from the government are keeping the dream of a well developed and strong country way beyond Chavez.

Andy
Andy
14 years ago

Incredibly biased documentary in favour of Chavez. There were a lot of factual mistakes on oil and PDVSA and even some spanish translation were twisted to support Chavez's version!

Sam
Sam
14 years ago

Wel...
I'm far away from Venezuela, but thanks to Chavez and the Venezuelan people... I could for the first time see how the real democracy works...with love from Morocco.

Viva Chavez.

Naz
Naz
14 years ago

Only if we more presidents like this, the world would have been a different place. Shame on America, shame on their selfish policies which go beyond deceit and greed. Its time Americans draw inspiration from such incidents and faith from 'real' presidents.

Its only you common Americans, who can not only get urself out of the pool of vicious lies but also the whole world, which is being dictated by your cherub looking country.

martin
martin
14 years ago

Great documentary. That is democracy the majority have chosen to redistribute wealth. I'd say Chavez would have loved watching it.

Gadfly
Gadfly
14 years ago

Hectorz: What a load of cr^p. He is only redistributing Venezuela's wealth to his friends and family? Are you kidding me?

Jamie
Jamie
14 years ago

correction:
hard to know the truth if a person is not “on the ground” of the country.

Jamie
Jamie
14 years ago

thank you for the comment, Hector
no surprise. too bad for V. have heard critisism, but nothing specific. hard to know the truth if a person "on the ground". politicians seem to be cut out if the same power- mongering bolt.

Hector
Hector
14 years ago

Yes he is redistributing wealth,,,, but among his family and friends...
this is just one of the many propaganda films and documentaries that mr chavez has paid for...
Is very easy to like chavez just because he is against the US goverment,, Thats his favorite tactic everytime he is in some foreing country,,,, oh wait,, theres a second tactic he loves using out of venezuela,,, "they want to kill me",,,,of course he only uses that outside,, because no one in venezuela believes in that speach no more,,,,
this is just propaganda

jamie
jamie
14 years ago

wow. the whole thing looked staged. which is kind of disturbing. especially part showing the snipers.

is chavez is actually redistributing wealth of the V?
hope so.

one thing i like about him. he stands up to media and US government liars.

fear and loathing in tdf.com
fear and loathing in tdf.com
14 years ago

beutiful simply beutiful this is how a true democracy looks like i feelt like i was watching a drama except the actors were real!