South of the Border (Oliver Stone, 2009): USA

Reviewed by Kathleen Amboy.  Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

  In an attempt to cast Hugo Chavez in a different light other than how the American press portrays him, controversial filmmaker Oliver Stone went South of the Border  to Venezuela, and interviewed Chavez personally.

President Chavez is a socialist who acts like a reformist but behaves like a revolutionary.  His career began in the military where he eventually formed the Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement and in 1992 staged a coup d’etat against then President Perez.  The coup failed but Chavez was ultimately elected president in 1998.

Stone shows us highlights of Chavez’s career with VO narration, simultaneously cutting to a sit-down interview with the president himself.  While we expect thought-provoking questioning from Stone, instead we witness Stone ask Chavez to instruct him on the use of coca leaves – Chavez obliges with a look and tone of idiocy towards his interviewer.  In a separate cut we are again deflated as Stone requests Chavez to ride around a field on a child’s bicycle, and this time Chavez idiotically agrees and damages the poor kid’s bike!

Stone then visited with Socialist Bolivian president Evo Morales, and again he inquires about coca leaves and requests that Evo play soccer with him out on the lawn – Evo politely agrees.

By the time Stone heads down to Argentina to interview President Christina Kirchner, it seems he’s been chewing too many coca leaves, when he seriously inquires of the president how many shoes she owns.  Kirchner retorts back “why is it men are never asked that question?”  To which the sexist Stone stupidly replies “she’s a feisty one.”   Kirchner was however able to deal with him patiently and politely – it’s no wonder Americans get a bad rap.

Outside of the one-on-one interviews, the film actually takes an interesting turn when we discover that the South American leaders appear friendly and supportive of each other.  It is their goal for their respective countries to get out of debt, be self-sufficient, and not rely on the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for help.

Chavez is highly critical of the U.S. government, yet despite being “democratic” himself, his own government has seized control over the media outlets, increased state powers, and put an end to term limits for presidents.

President Lugo of Paraguay (former Catholic Bishop w/three paternity suits) and President Raul Castro of Cuba were interviewed as well.  Yet in Stone’s attempt to show the rest of the world that what the media or politicians label as dictators, are really just ordinary heroes working for the good of the people, he falls short – the Bolsheviks were ordinary too!

All of these presidents appeared to be intelligent and have honorable intentions, however most politicians (wherever they serve) have a problem with honesty – wake up Oliver, you should know that.  In an attempt to broaden our minds, your film was very one-sided.