14/04/2010
Venezuelan Embassy commemorates April 13 with screening of documentary film

The latest in a season of documentaries on Venezuela was screened yesterday at Bolivar Hall.  "Un Golpe y Una Carta" tells the powerful story of a soldier, Juan Rodriguez, who risked his life to smuggle out a letter written by President Hugo Chavez while he was being held captive during the 2002 coup.  The letter stated that, contrary to what was being reported in the media, Chavez had not resigned.

Rodriguez detailed his emotional meeting with the President during his 48-hour imprisonment and described how it was his idea for Chavez to write a letter and leave it in the dustbin of his cell so that Rodriguez could retrieve it.  The soldier then managed to get through a number of military checkpoints before he was able to make the letter public.

Dr. Francisco Dominguez, Secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, said afterwards: "it is difficult to grasp the enormity of the situation until someone explains it.  The documentary told the very human and personal story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in times of need".  Dr. Dominguez also stressed the importance of the letter as a means of undermining the coup.  Dr. Dominguez also highlighted that the screening of the documentary coincided with the eighth anniversary of President Chavez's return to power after the failed coup and said that big celebrations were taking place in Caracas.

“Un Golpe y Una Carta” is a documentary film directed by David Segarra and produced by Guarataro Films and Venezolana de Television (VTV – Venezuelan Television Network).

You can watch part of the film by clicking here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmplS3lli50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5cp3nA_wO8

Press Unit of the Venezuelan Embassy in London