Don't Mess With Texas; SXSW Honors Homegrown Filmmakers

Read complete article by Jacque Lynn Schiller

.......... "The Flute Player" introduces Arn Chorn Pond, a survivor of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime, who while struggling with his own guilt for still being alive, manages to initiate something positive -- in this case resurrecting the music of his country's few remaining masters. He also became an advocate for Amnesty International. Pond's story is excruciating at times and it made me sick to understand the military's murderous campaign was occurring at the same time that I was enjoying a carefree childhood on a Texas riverbank. Likewise, "Revolution" unveils the media corruption and public gullibility behind last year's (thankfully short-lived) coup of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Irish filmmakers Donnacha O'Briain and Kim Bartley originally set out to interview the enigmatic Chavez and were given unprecedented access to his daily routine, palace life, and trips to the countryside (where he listened to his poverty stricken citizens' problems and encouraged them to read and learn the constitution). After 9/11, he called on the U.S. not to "fight terror with terror" and suddenly Colin Powell was on CNN claiming that Chavez was mentally ill. Chavez was already in trouble with oil interests for calling on controls that would benefit the financially burdened people of Venezuela. Obviously his opinions were not appreciated. The media (Chavez only has access to one television station) immediately began a disparaging campaign against Chavez and the filmmakers found themselves witnessing an overthrow attempt. Thankfully, the people overtook the palace declaring their constitutional rights to speak out and be represented by the leader they voted for. And for once, a happy ending. Chavez was reinstated and Colin Powell returned to state that America had no involvement in the uprising. Judging by the "Fuck You's" hurled at his image, I don't think anyone in the audience believed him.

This is what film fests are all about. The petty inconveniences and parking woes seem irrelevant when you see something that knocks you so hard. With films there can be entertainment and there can be education, and in the end, SXSW satisfied both.