Overt bias brings Democracy close to propaganda

Well-intended doc on America’s detrimental involvement in Latin American democracies makes its point so strongly and with such clear bias as to border on propaganda. The film takes the shape of a long-form news piece, narrated by journalist/director/writer/producer John Pilger. The overt bias makes the film a harder sell to an educational market that would otherwise find a lot of use for it. That said, numbers might be hard to come by.

The list of Latin American nations that have suffered covert overthrows at the hands of CIA or other U.S. agencies is strikingly large. Ironically, the governments that U.S. forces seek to overturn (usually by devious methods such as kidnapping, coup and military assault), are all democratically elected. As per tradition, popularly elected officials seek to support the poor and working classes, in many cases offering education and land reforms that threaten the foothold of the (presumably exploitative) upper classes. This inspires the power elite to take refuge in summer homes (for longer than a summer) and bring their money with them on their elegantly appointed exiles. The groundswell of national pride and support that emerges from the oppressed classes grows under the management of these democratically elected governments and, according to the footage here provided by director/reporter Pilger, can provide something of a inspirational starting point for other countries or communities suffering similar fates.

While this diligently researched film cogently moves from Latin American nation to Latin American nation, explaining the strangely predictable cycle of uprisings among these countries, it’s ultimately hard to identify the audience it addresses. On the one hand, the film feels like a tidy, BBC think piece intended to offer conscientious world citizens a view into an otherwise unknown and ongoing political war. However, the “hope springs eternal” ending belies the rabblerousing the film might otherwise engender. If War on Democracy, with all it’s painful irony (democratic nations overthrowing fledgling democracies) intended to inspire its audiences to action (a goal to which most grassroots-style docs aspire), then why end on such an up beat?

Ultimately, either the motivations for War on Democracy are unclear, or this American is so jaded by agenda-oriented media she can’t tell the difference between responsible reporting and propaganda. These nations are obviously in peril and the U.S. is clearly the villain, but what do we do about it now? John Pilger, I’m asking.

Distributor: Coach 14
Screenwriter/Director/Producer: John Pilger
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Running time: 96 min.
Release date: May 2 (SF)