Good film, boring Marxists

[sabotabby]

Arthur Miller? Oh, hell.

I went with K. and D. (don't you love this whole initial thing? I just don't want them to accidentally stumble upon my journal, as it is pretty much public knowledge, and get all pissy about me using their real names) to see this:



It's pretty much a Chavez propaganda film, so don't see it expecting "fair and balanced," but since I already harbour a massive crush on the guy, I thought it was really good. The screening was free, but we had to listen to over an hour of the most boring speeches by the Communist Party of Canada -- sorry, the Bolivarian Circle -- ever. No exaggeration. It was like Fidel's six-hour lectures without any of the charm. We amused ourselves by passing notes back and forth, just like in high school. (For those not in the know, K. is a high school friend of mine. We used to dress up like militiawomen in the Spanish Civil War. I'm not even kidding.)


When you talk for too long, this is what your audience is thinking:


There was a younger guy (who I know...not a bad sort, really) and in front of him, an aging Marxist. The old guy could have been the young guy in 30 years. I genuinely hope it was his dad.


"Hey, Rachel! Draw Fidel."
"Okay."


Got a bit carried away here.


D. is mean. He ought to be hit with things. Repeatedly.





By the way, if you think this whole post was just a pointless and lame excuse for me to mention Chavez, you're completely right.

Comments

[maeve66.livejournal.com]

Posting notes taken at political meetings is NEVER lame and pointless. God, I loved those. I pass notes at every single meeting I attend, ever, whether it's political, at school, ANYTHING. A meeting is not a meeting unless I'm passing notes and doodling. But those are fucking classic, in any case.

I saw the film last year. It was propaganda, sure... but interesting propaganda, or maybe I was just in a weird mood that problematized the whole caudillo thing -- I thought the Irish film crew very much treated him as THE LIVING EMBODIMENT of Bolivarismo or whatever they call it, even more so than Fidel etc., to the point that during the whole attempted coup, when the VP was in hiding in the Cuban Embassy, and when he was out, supposedly "in control" in place of Chavez... they NEVER ONCE referred to him by name. He was only referred to by his office. I still don't know the dude's name. I only know Hugo Chavez's name.

I mean, I like Chavez and I'm glad the oil gives him some leverage... but leadership concentrated so exclusively in one person; I at least want to talk about it. And I went home after that movie and had the worst argument of our whole year-long relationship with my ex, about that exact question. He was like, "Jesus, can't you be uncritical for ONCE???" If he'd known that was the hallmark of trotskyism, he might not have asked.

[sabotabby]

Hee. Usually I knit, but I left my knitting things at home.

I think it was interesting that the cabinet meeting basically fell apart when he wasn't there to guide it. That is problematic, and worrisome. I think that he is committed to democracy, which means he's not President for life, and I also think that the CIA wants to assassinate him or otherwise remove him from power. So if Bolivarianismo is going to work, the structures have to be strong enough to survive with or without him.

I have a very cliché and un-PC fetish for macho Latin American radical types. I'm sure no one's noticed.

[princessrugger.livejournal.com]

i've decided that you need to live upstairs from me so that you can entertain me all the time. rr+vl? BRILLIANT.

[sabotabby]

You have to move to Canada, then. Me in America = me getting swastikas painted all over my front door, most likely.

[princessrugger.livejournal.com]

nah, it'd probably just make your head explode.

[sabotabby]

Yes, well, I didn't think that exploding heads were the sort of entertainment you had in mind. Although I would find that funny.

[lokust.livejournal.com]

i an undoubteldy vanguardist...
just not red.
and i'll be toronto soooooooon!
bo du duyen with me, jennpea, and adrienne, yes?

[sabotabby]

Awesome, and absolutely. Fressen's too!

[frandroid.livejournal.com]

Isn't that terribly overpriced for what they're selling? I went once and while it was "fancy", it wasn't particularly "tasty".

[sabotabby]

It is yummilicious. Dinner is usually too expensive for us working class folk, but brunch is very much worth it.

[terry-terrible.livejournal.com]

"This guy could could talk the state in submission"

>>>>> Laughing my ass off over that one!

[sabotabby]

That'd be D. Funny, funny man. The particular professor elicted the comment by not only saying boring things, but saying them extremely slowly.

[(Anonymous)]

I just draw naked people. 'Can't do that at work meetings, though.

- Rohmie

[sabotabby]

Never stopped me before.