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Since the late 19th Century, the United States has been involved in numerous regime changes in Latin America; sometimes actively, others not so much. Augusto Pinochet in Chile, Fulgencio Batista in Cuba, the Somozas in Nicaragua, Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay, military interventions in Haiti, Panama, and even Puerto Rico, to name a few. But there is a pendulum to history, these things change.
South of the Border follows director Oliver Stone as he travels through different countries in Latin America, investigating the shift to the left within many countries of the region towards the beginning of the 21st Century; the so-called "pink tide". In the process, Stone meets with leaders like Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Raśl Castro (Cuba), Evo Morales (Bolivia), Lula da Silva (Brazil), and several others.
It is not a secret that Stone has a certain agenda. He doesn't hide it, so it's there for everybody to see. He has been a hard-core critic of U.S. government, the establishment, and a firm detractor of President Bush, among other things. Take from that what you may as you watch this documentary, but he still does a great job of presenting facts in a neat package. The rise of leftist governments was indeed surprising and I suppose worrisome to the U.S. establishment.
As someone who has lived through the sh!tty foreign policies of the United States and their sh!tty practics, I can recognize very well when what Stone's presenting holds up. He's clearly taking a risk by putting himself beside such hated figures like Chavez and Castro, but I'm sure he knows it very well. Still, those that can look beyond that, and are willing to listen to "the other side", will probably come out of this with a broader perspective of the world.
But there's a pendulum to history, these things change. Most of that tide that rose up in the beginning of the century has receded, and ironically, most of the leaders interviewed here have either passed away, or have already left their seats; many of them with criminal charges, dubious or not, that have threatened or completely damaged their political careers. Again, take from that what you may, but there's a pendulum to history, these things change.
Grade:
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
(2009, Stone)
A film from Oliver Stone
(2009, Stone)
A film from Oliver Stone
"There is a pendulum to history, these things change."
Since the late 19th Century, the United States has been involved in numerous regime changes in Latin America; sometimes actively, others not so much. Augusto Pinochet in Chile, Fulgencio Batista in Cuba, the Somozas in Nicaragua, Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay, military interventions in Haiti, Panama, and even Puerto Rico, to name a few. But there is a pendulum to history, these things change.
South of the Border follows director Oliver Stone as he travels through different countries in Latin America, investigating the shift to the left within many countries of the region towards the beginning of the 21st Century; the so-called "pink tide". In the process, Stone meets with leaders like Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Raśl Castro (Cuba), Evo Morales (Bolivia), Lula da Silva (Brazil), and several others.
It is not a secret that Stone has a certain agenda. He doesn't hide it, so it's there for everybody to see. He has been a hard-core critic of U.S. government, the establishment, and a firm detractor of President Bush, among other things. Take from that what you may as you watch this documentary, but he still does a great job of presenting facts in a neat package. The rise of leftist governments was indeed surprising and I suppose worrisome to the U.S. establishment.
As someone who has lived through the sh!tty foreign policies of the United States and their sh!tty practics, I can recognize very well when what Stone's presenting holds up. He's clearly taking a risk by putting himself beside such hated figures like Chavez and Castro, but I'm sure he knows it very well. Still, those that can look beyond that, and are willing to listen to "the other side", will probably come out of this with a broader perspective of the world.
But there's a pendulum to history, these things change. Most of that tide that rose up in the beginning of the century has receded, and ironically, most of the leaders interviewed here have either passed away, or have already left their seats; many of them with criminal charges, dubious or not, that have threatened or completely damaged their political careers. Again, take from that what you may, but there's a pendulum to history, these things change.
Grade: