The film season Venezuela: a film revolution was inaugurated at the Bolivar Hall, part of the Embassy of Venezuela in the UK with the screening of the first part of “The time of the furnaces” (Argentina, 1968).

The film season was organized by the solidarity campaign group Hands off Venezuela, in association with the Venezuelan Embassy in the UK. The aim of this season specially dedicated to Venezuelan film is to provide audiences with material that can help them understand the Bolivarian processes within its historical, social, political economic and continental context through films of indisputable artistic and documental value, such as “La batalla de Chile” (The Battle of Chile), “La hora de los hornos” (The time of the furnaces), or “Memorias del subdesarollo” (Memories of Underdevelopment), among others.

“La hora de los hornos” – Neocolonialism and violence- is the opera prima film from the mythical Liberation Film Group (Grupo Cine Liberación) founded in the seventies by film makers Fernando “Pino” Solanas and Octavio Gitano. This documentary presents a powerful investigation into neocolonialism and of the profound causes for underdevelopment in Latin America. At a cinematographic level the rich international tradition of revolutionary and social film can be observed, especially the influence of Russian director Sergei Eisenstein in the way it’s been edited.

Film director José Baena (“Memorias de un futuro”- “Memories of a future”) a regular collaborator for the film magazine Vertigo, introduced the film and talked about the work of the Liberation Film Group.

The screening was followed by a debate with Alan Woods, founding member of Hands off Venezuela, and author of amongst others titles of; Reason in Revolt: Marxist philosophy and Modern Science; The Venezuelan Revolution: A Marxist perspective; Reformism or Revolution: Marxism and Socialism of 21st century; his last book, which will be presented this July at the Madrid Book Fair in its Spanish edition.

Alan Woods indicated that Bolivar’s idea of unifying Latin America “not the dream, because dreams tend to have an unattainable character, not only is possible but is necessary. However this idea can only materialize itself in the struggle towards socialism. Can anyone imagine a united Latin America whilst the oligarchy (bankers, industrialists and landowners) remain in control of political and economic power?

The season continues with the screening of “Memoria del Saqueo” (Memories of the Looting) on 18th June. This film marked the open return of “Pino” Solanas to the social and political film industry. It is a relentless chronicle of the neo-liberal wave that swept across Latin America in the nineties.

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