In July Progressive Cinema will be held on the first rather than the second Wednesday of the month. The documentary “Chasing Chavez” will be screened at 7:30pm on Wednesday, July 4, at the Armidale Club, 91 Beardy Street.
“I have been to Venezuela several times and it will be a pleasure to introduce the new Venezuela solidarity film Chasing Chavez, directed by Katrina Channells and co-produced by Nik Lachajczak,” said Jim McIlroy, co-author of the book Voices from Venezuela: Behind the Bolivarian Revolution (Resistance Books, Sydney 2008), who will be present to introduce the film.
“Chasing Chavez recounts the story of my co-author and Australian Socialist Alliance member Coral Wynter and her quest to present President Hugo Chavez with a copy of our book, Voices from Venezuela. The film highlights the people’s revolution sweeping Venezuela and the need for international solidarity.
“It tells the saga of Coral’s determined efforts to meet with President Chavez during our stay in Venezuela in 2008-9, and her desire to communicate with the leader of the Bolivarian revolution about the development of a growing international solidarity movement with the Venezuelan people, even in a far-away, English-speaking country like Australia.
“The film effectively presents the personal story of Coral’s longstanding connection with Venezuela going back to the 1970s, and her more recent involvement in helping to organise solidarity brigades, under the auspices of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), as the foreground for depicting the reality of Venezuela today.
“The movie combines stunning cinematography with the humour, warmth and generosity of the ordinary Venezuelan people which shines through.”
The event will be free, however donations to support the Armidale Club and Green Left Weekly are encouraged. Turntables restaurant will be open for dinner from 6pm. For more information call Bea Bleile on 0458 752 680.
