Once Upon a Time in Venezuela (2020) User Reviews

An important film

[dagnydrums · 8/10 · 3 January 2021]

Once upon a time in Venezuela is the perfect analogy of the deterioration of a country by people who never cared too much. That forgotten town of the Congo Mirador could be the representation of Venezuela. Very well filmed, it is an important documentary that deserves much more recognition. Well done.

A town that represents Venezuela's downfall

[juanpsotoabr · 8/10 · 10 January 2021]

This film shares the relevance for the current political and social climate of the country which was shot. The issues and arcs of each character manage to portray the enormous problems of Venezuela and their people. The negligence of the current dictatorship, people escaping from their hometown and current villagers constantly fighting for basic needs like water, food and specifically sedimentation problems that affected the little town of Congo Mirador.

A dense, very harsh but realistic story of the worst period in Venezuelan history, magnified in a particular place.

Totally worth watching.

Una iteración de todo el declive que ha vivido Venezuela

[lapv1992 · 7/10 · 18 February 2021]

Every day in Venezuela there is an unprecedented decline in human rights, disintegrated families that disintegrate neighborhoods that disintegrate towns in a country destroyed by blind ideals and mismanagement. This is a documentary about a real situation in a real country with real people. WYSIWYG. We are left with the feeling that things are not going to improve, they certainly did not for the people of the Congo.

Perhaps one of the best audiovisual history "books" of Venezuela's recent years.

[aldonin · 10/10 · 21 November 2020]

Once Upon a Time in Venezuela is about Congo Mirador, a small scale story of a nation-wide situation, a metaphor: the country is sinking in the swamp. It does an awesome job at having an impartial view on the situation and let viewers arrive at their own conclusions.

The characters (mainly villagers) have their own stories and they're not portrayed as good or bad, just as humans dealing with the complexity of the situation. Some hoping for a change, others "trapped" in this irreversible political project.

Thanks for this documentary and also wish the best to all the villagers of Congo Mirador, wherever they are.

Painfully moving...

[hzdedalus · 10/10 · 27 January 2021]

Very sad reality, impeccably documented. Admirable production, careful photography. The narration, editing and every detail accurately portrays the lives of those who suffered a devastating end. My respect for the teacher Natalia Sánchez.