Chavez: Inside the Coup (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised) (2003)

98% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(1,890 ratings)

Taking its title from a poem/song by Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is an award-winning international documentary. Irish filmmakers Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain went to Venezuela to make a documentary about the charismatic, democratically elected president, Hugo Chavez.… More Taking its title from a poem/song by Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is an award-winning international documentary. Irish filmmakers Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain went to Venezuela to make a documentary about the charismatic, democratically elected president, Hugo Chavez. Very popular with the Venezuelan people, Chavez is a firm supporter of socialism and a redistribution of wealth from the oil profits in his country. He's also an outspoken opponent of the Bush administration's tactics in Afghanistan. In April 2002, the filmmakers ended up witnessing the failed coup that took place when a group of oil-interested parties tried to remove Chavez from office. Pedro Carmona was supposed to be installed as the new leader. However, due to the loyalty of his people, Chavez was back in power in 48 hours. While the state-controlled media (Channel 8 in Venezuela) gave the president a call-in show to talk with the public, privatized media outlets reported that pro-Chavez supporters had fired on an anti-Chavez march. After making its U.S. premiere at the 2003 South by Southwest Film Festival, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (also known as Chavez: Inside the Coup) has aired around the world on the RTE, BBC, and CBC. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 14 min.
Directed By: Kim Bartley, Donnacha O'Brien
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
Studio: Vitagraph Films

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Compelling and immediate.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A rough-edged work of journalism that is as gripping as a thriller.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Fascinating, informative and chilling.
Howard Shapiro, Philadelphia Inquirer
Everything's real -- the shouting, the dissonance, the worry.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Stands as our best chance to understand what happened in Caracas, even if the filmmakers' pro-Chavez stance should send you to alternate sources for the larger picture.
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised may be controversial, biased and patchy, but it contains some of the most electrifying and immediate nonfiction footage seen on the big screen.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
The filmmakers, simply forgotten in the dramatic rush of events, capture the anatomy of a coup as it crystallized and unraveled, and history nearly recorded itself.
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative
Revolution... is not just a portrait of a fascinating, paradoxical leader but of a vibrant people and culture long-hidden by our own media.
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
A thrilling, expertly assembled argument against regime change.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
The big story here is neither the coup, nor the countercoup, but the spread of constitutional values to the people of Venezuela.
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
A remarkable example of the power of film to capture unfolding historic events.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
An eye-opener that focuses on world-shaking events and makes you feel like you are there.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It gives us a sense of Venezuela's political and social climate in April 2002, and in that regard it is most fascinating.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
A tense, rapid-paced political drama.
Mary Brennan, Seattle Times
A gripping, nearly perfect documentary, chronicling a heart-stopping rise, fall and triumphant reversal in the space of its 74-minute running time.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Amazing Documentary about the Coup to overthrow Hugh Chavez
Eduardo C

Rarely has the usage of the phrase "at the right place, at the right time" been more apt. Makes for a fantastic double-feature with "Puente Llaguno: Claves de Una Masacre"

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Chavez: Inside the Coup (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised) (2003)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Eduardo C

Cast

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