“We’re going to show that no issue is too big for the government to tackle, and no worry is too small for it to address.”
This was the declaration made by democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani after winning the mayoral election in New York City.
“It’s tough to find an American journalist who, one, actually cares about Venezuela and, two, manages to avoid the usual narrative of ‘It’s all America’s fault because of the sanctions.’”
While many Americans might still be reveling in the optimism surrounding Mamdani’s ascension and the ideals of democratic socialism, Jim Epstein and Germania Rodriguez Poleo want to share their perspective.
Bringing the Issues to Light
The pair’s recently launched initiative, “Escaping Venezuela,” reveals a cautionary tale of what unfolds when a wealthy country tries to redistribute its riches. Unfortunately, the outcomes are dire, and escaping the country can become a perilous endeavor.
The Reason documentary, which premieres today at the IFC Center in New York City, depicts how the late Hugo Chavez sought to enshrine socialism in the oil-rich nation, resulting in catastrophic fallout.
Hunger. Poverty. Corruption. Repression. Media suppression targeted at those daring to challenge Chavez’s regime.
Epstein, the film’s producer, began formulating the idea for a documentary on Venezuela back in 2019, spurred by the country’s rampant migration crisis, alongside its economic struggles and the deterioration of healthcare facilities.
“What policy mistakes could lead an oil-rich nation to this level of crisis?” Epstein pondered, noting to Blaze Lifestyle that while media reports have focused on current events, they often neglect the broader context.
“They often highlight the final chapter,” he reflects. And the narrative traces back to Chavez’s ambitious vision, a “grand socialist experiment.”
“Chavez aimed to revive socialism following the collapse of the Berlin Wall,” he explains. “He dreamed of transforming not just Venezuela but all of Latin America. … It didn’t just go wrong; it unraveled spectacularly. This story deserves to be told.”
The Escape
The documentary follows the story of Carlos Mora, an entrepreneur in Venezuela whose business was devastated by Chavez’s socialist policies. He took significant risks to help fellow Venezuelans flee the country.
His family’s narrative underscores the essence of “Escaping Venezuela.”
Rodriguez Poleo, who narrates the documentary, is among the many who left Venezuela as it veered toward socialism. She joined this project partly to clarify the often-misrepresented story presented in the media.
“It’s tough to find an American journalist who, one, cares about Venezuela and, two, doesn’t play into the narrative of ‘It’s solely America’s fault due to the sanctions,’” she states.
A particularly haunting segment of the film shows Hollywood warmly welcoming Chavez during the 2009 Venice Film Festival.
Yes, really.
The leader attended to support “South of the Border,” a film by Oliver Stone that uncritically celebrated Latin America’s socialist shifts.
“There wasn’t much awareness of the repression occurring under Chavez,” Epstein comments. “Chavez was viewed more like this fun guy that filmmakers like Michael Moore could hang out with.”
Difficult to Communicate
It’s ironic, really, that Hollywood has largely ignored the devastation that Chavez’s and later Nicolas Maduro’s administrations have inflicted on Venezuela.
Epstein finds this unsurprising.
“The filmmaking community leans left… they’re less likely to explore a massive socialist failure,” he notes.
Although “Escaping Venezuela” took seven years to bring to fruition, it arrives at a moment when the Democratic Party is leaning more into socialism. Mamdani is just one of the many emerging figures on the left eager to realize a socialist “utopia.”
“I began this project long before the rise of DSA (Democratic Socialists of America). … It’s just funny how the timing worked out,” Epstein admits.
Rodriguez Poleo struggles to comprehend why any nation would embrace socialism, particularly when there are painful examples like Venezuela. She also recognizes that history tends to repeat itself.
“We did the hard work for you; learn from our mistakes,” she adds, emphasizing how her compatriots, too, had to grapple with harsh realities. “We overlooked the Cubans when they warned us about socialism. Now, we’re being overlooked. It’s just the historical cycle.”
Sharing the Message
At present, “Escaping Venezuela” doesn’t have a definite distribution plan for theaters or streaming services. Epstein is considering multiple avenues and hopes the documentary will eventually be available on platforms like Netflix or Prime Video.
He understands the uphill battle that most modern documentaries face.
“It’s a fight for views and recognition,” he says. “Scoring a deal with Netflix or HBO can feel like hitting the jackpot. For a politically charged film like this, it’s even more challenging.”
Regardless of how things unfold, Rodriguez Poleo envisions screenings at colleges, where some of the most vocal supporters of socialism often reside. These campuses can also witness violence along with these ideas.
“Socialism tends to be authoritarian by nature,” she argues. “People have businesses. They want to operate them their way… When the government says, ‘I need your land,’ it requires an authoritarian approach to compel people to relinquish their rights.”
