Cocalero
by Alejandro Landes
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Evo MoralesDirector: Alejandro Landes
Brand: First RUN Features
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 94 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-12-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: FIRST RUN FEATURES
Movie Reviews of Cocalero
Movie Review: Real democracy the US could learn from.
Summary: 5 Stars
While the people of the US corporate state often claim to live in the world's leading democracy, - despite the common knowledge that we have the best democracy money can buy - "Cocaleros" shows that other people in the world know a few things about democracy themselves. With little money, but through ingenious organizing, the indigenous majority of Bolivia was able to elect a person who represented their interests, and would work to protect their coca growing traditions and distribute the wealth of the country more fairly. All these are radical ideas in the US, as we wage a global war against coca growing Plan Colombia: Cashing in on the Drug War Failure and concentrate wealth towards the upper classes The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back. Nevertheless, Bolivians retain many of their communities and a sense of solidarity that has made democracy more of a reality than a catch-phrase. "Cocaleros" simply follows Evo Morales and his supporters as they do the mundane things of preparing for an election - media appearances, handing out flyers, learning about the ballots and so forth. While the popular movement for Evo grew, there were US political advisors who were working to get the establishment candidate elected. That issue is covered in the film Our Brand Is Crisis which features James Carville as he devises media strategies to frighten people into voting against Morales.
"Cocaleros" has some shots of Bolivia that are just beautiful, and the soundtrack of original music is sensational; and I thoroughly enjoyed the ways it represents indigenous people who were largely exterminated here in the US, and face vicious discrimination in South America. There are moments in the film where Morales is called a "f-ing Indian."
So, it was wonderful to see Morales win, and this film does a great job of honoring that historic achievement.
Many films are being produced that will help US citizens overcome their insularity and sense of superiority. It's a shame this sort of enlightening and humane movie isn't aired on stations like NBC, but Link TV and Sundance do air perception-expanding films like "Cocaleros."
I would also recommend the film The Corporation which features a segment on Bolivia's struggle to control their water resources, and also outlines the problems the entire world faces from massive corporate power.
Wikipedia also has an interesting write-up on Morales, who said, "The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that the national states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."
Summary of Cocalero
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