Finding my Identity
A film about Venezuela by a Venezuelan
On October 7th 2012 my country Venezuela held presidential elections. I was so excited because the whole world was watching. Hugo Chavez had a worthy adversary in Henrique Capriles Randonski. My facebook feed was filled with videos and posts reflecting hope and a population chanting for change "Un nuevo camino" A new road.
I saw as my fellow Venezuelans that like me live abroad, took buses and planes to cast their votes at different consulates around the world. Venezuelans in New Orleans sang the national anthem as they excitedly waited for their turn to cast their vote. We all waited patiently for the results to be revealed. I had a live feed on the internet of Globovision, one of the channels of the opposition. At 10 pm all of our dreams were slashed when the government announced that Hugo Chavez would stay in the presidency for another 6 years, making his term at least 20 years in power. A democracy they claim, a democracy led by a dictator.
I was specially sad because I felt so powerless. I wasn't able to vote. You see, three years ago I discovered that my Cedula, which is the equivalent to a social security number, was given to someone else, to someone who's name is MAURICIO SIERRA ALZATE. That is of course illegal. I contested it and got proof that it was in fact my identity not his but as I recently checked that issue was never corrected with the courts. Prior to the elections I checked and it shows that this person registered to vote at this past elections. I've heard of many situations like mine. People that no longer live in Venezuela, people that have passed away, etc have had their identities given to others, probably Cuban immigrants, in exchange for a vote.
I left Venezuela 17 years ago. Although I was born in the United States, Venezuela is the land where I lived my childhood. I have an accent when I speak that's clearly Venezuelan, to me it will always be home. When I left, Hugo Chavez was not in power yet. I understand why he was elected, people were tired of corruption and inequality and he offered a drastically different solution to the problems that plagued the country. The problem is, this man got drunk with power and will not leave. Even after almost dying of cancer, he wouldn't leave his post.
I've seen, every time I go back to visit my family how the country has deteriorated. Once the most advanced and rich country in South America, it's now filled with a dilapidated infrastructure and roads filled with trash. Most of my family and friends have been robbed at least a couple of times. My dear aunt has been kidnapped twice, my cousin was kidnapped recently. Most homes have electric fences around them and fear rules the streets. The inflation rate is one of the highest in the world. I once was there and Hugo Chavez decided to declare the next day a holiday to celebrate him. So he demanded every public sector employee show up to a march wearing a red shirt, if they didn't they'd be fired. Some of my aunts and uncles who are teachers were forced to go support this man in fear of loosing their jobs.
I've seen as this man has changed the constitution over and over to stay in power, paying his followers with free homes and cars. The days before this election he gave people who vowed to vote for him and entire year's pay. He's changed the name of the currency, the name of the country, the time zone, the flag, all tactics to distract people from what's really happening. His solution to healthcare was to bring to Venezuela untrained Cuban doctors to take care of the population, as if Venezuelan doctors weren't good enough. The result is that malpractice cases have increased ten fold. My grandmother went in to treat cataracts and she's now blind. We paid a private doctor to do a retina transplant which was very expensive but the damage had already been done.
As I was sharing my frustration on facebook and in person, many would say to me, but I hear Hugo Chavez is great! That Venezuelan's love him. My heart breaks that this is what a vast portion of the world believes.
So what's a filmmaker to do? I got it! I'm going to make a documentary about my situation. Not Oliver Stone, me. A movie about Venezuela by a Venezuelan, what a revolutionary thought. I'm going to go find this MAURICIO guy and find out how he got my identity and on the way talk to Venezuelans from both sides of the political spectrum. Ask them how the socialist revolution has affected them, on the ground. How are their daily lives? What do they want the world to know about Venezuela? Who knows I may just be able to speak to Henrique Capriles or maybe even Hugo Chavez.
If you are interested in supporting me with this or know someone who does, please e-mail me at: fanny_veliz@hotmail.com
I'm going to need funding and stories, tons of stories!
I believe this film is an opportunity to show the world what really is happening and to inspire a change. Hay un camino. There's a way.
