Nostalgic About The Future is a documentary film about Venezuelan women’s organization, shot during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the Venezuelan government and political and community organizations in the country played a remarkable role in fighting the virus and coordinating care actions. They prioritized the support to collective life over a policy centered around profits and the economy of exclusion.
Launched in 2022, the film by Thierry Deronne shows the work of different women in their communes, including construction workers, doctors and nurses, musicians, students, and many others. “More than the building and the commitment, you know that, when you are building, you are creating your home with your own hands,” says one of the interviewees who was involved in community house construction and repair work.
This view is the result of years of building a project of liberation that started under the leadership of Hugo Chávez, which mobilizes thousands of Venezuelan militants. Last Sunday, July 28th, 2024, this Bolivarian project was once again reaffirmed by the people in the presidential election that got Nicolás Maduro re-elected with 51.2 percent of the total votes. Once again, there is an imperialist and far-right offensive happening in Latin America aiming to delegitimize this result, attacking Venezuela’s popular sovereignty.
What was at stake last Sunday in Venezuela was much more than a domestic election process between candidates: it was, in reality, the continuation of the historical battle between Patria Grande and imperialism, between Bolívar and Monroe.
Statement by ALBA Movements
Speaking to Capire, the World March of Women militant Alejandra Laprea describes women’s fundamental participation in building the revolution every day: “From the door to the ballot box, most people were women. I greeted my neighbors, which I also do when the Clap [food from the local supply and production committee] is distributed or during demonstrations. Like my fellow sisters in the Tramuco Cooperative, they support communities, families, social movements in the neighborhoods, foster communes, community parliaments, communal councils, experiences of solidarity economy, and support networks against harassment and sexist violence.” For all that, Alejandra says, “It would be impossible to think that the Bolivarian revolution would resist for 26 years without women’s unyielding commitment.”
For 26 years we have been putting our bodies in it, mobilizing our dreams for the future, our reflections, and everything we have for the revolution. We have great goals. On all levels, we are working for our feminist revolution.
Alejandra Laprea
The women portrayed in Nostalgic About The Future move the country, sustain their communities, take part in politics, and challenge the structures of imperialism. They live in the capital and villages, in urban and rural areas. The film shows footage from several territories in Venezuela and the ways women face their ways of living and advocate for collectivizing labor and their social function.
Amid hegemonic media that persecutes and attacks the grassroots project pushed forward by the Venezuelan people, Nostalgic About The Future fills a much needed role: to show the diversity of Venezuelan communities and their impressive grassroots organization.
Watch the trailer below and contact the film producers (blogvenezuelainfos@gmail.com) to organize a screening session.
