This report shows Venezuelans commemorating twenty years of socialism, marking two decades since Hugo Chavez took office in 1999 and launched the Bolivarian Revolution. Supporters gathered to celebrate the movement that promised to use Venezuela’s oil wealth to reduce poverty, expand health care and education, and give a greater voice to the country’s poor. For many who took part, the anniversary was a moment of pride and loyalty to a project they felt had transformed their lives.
The film also captures the tensions surrounding the anniversary. By 2019, Venezuela was in the midst of a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, with shortages, inflation and mass emigration, and critics argued there was little to celebrate. Supporters, by contrast, blamed external pressure, sanctions and economic warfare for the country’s difficulties, and pointed to social programmes and political participation as lasting achievements. The commemoration therefore became a contest over memory and meaning, as much as a celebration.
For readers interested in socialism’s history and present, the twentieth anniversary is a natural moment for reflection. It invites an assessment of what the Bolivarian Revolution achieved and where it fell short, and of how a movement’s founding promises compare with its record after twenty years in power. The video below presents the full report.