A Whisper To A Roar: Film Analysis

The film A Whisper to a Roar takes a look at the maneuvers taken by leaders to say in power using the analogy of a dragon ruling over a defenseless town. In the analogy the filmmakers introduce a warrior from the very same town who challenges and vanquishes the dragon and assumes leadership. Due to the wealth and power granted to the warrior after his defeat of the dragon, he abandons his values and transforms into a new dragon. The filmmakers use this parallel idea of a leader who comes into power to reform governments to only succumb to the spoils of leadership and becomes corrupt himself. The film attempts to illustrate events in five states - Malaysia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Egypt, and Zimbabwe - who have tried to move towards democracy
Unfortunately, with the inclusion of Venezuela I believe did a disservice to themselves and weakened the films argument. The lack of substance and history of why President Hugo Chavez’s administration and government consolidated power is a crucial foundation needed to be discussed in understanding contemporary Venezuela. Ignoring and neglecting the failed coup d’état in 2002 by a select individuals in the military and economic elites – funded by the United State through the National Endowment for Democracy and U.S. Aid according to the Council on Hemispheric Affairs – that lead to his removal for a few day only to be returned to power by mass citizen mobilization in the streets throughout Venezuela is vital. The fact that the hegemonic world leader would attempt to ouster President Chavez granted him rationale in many individual’s eyes for centralizing power. Totally absent from the film was this critical foundation in understanding the actions taken by then President Chavez. While the filmmakers had every right to criticize the consolidation of power by the executive branch in Venezuela the deficiency of cause for the consolidation diluted the stories legitimacy as a whole. Furthermore, many of the examples given in the film for lack of democratic government in Venezuela did not seem to be principal barriers to democracy. The lack of
Although it is essential for all five states to prevent future “dragons” from being able to take power additional factors play a large role. Venezuela is an excellent example of a state moving in its own endeavor towards social democracy stalled by outside forces. The failed coup d’état presented President Chavez with an opportunity to centralize governmental powers through legitimate avenues otherwise unlikely available to him. He went from a social democratic reformer, “warrior”, toward an authoritarian, “dragon”, due to his perception of outside forces. No matter what infrastructure is placed to facilitate democracy if powerful outside forces are continuously harassing and creating instability no state can reach a stable democratic