Venezuela to finance films by actor Danny Glover

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Venezuela’s Congress has approved $20 million in financing for two films by actor Danny Glover, a supporter of President Hugo Chavez, the Associated Press reports.

One movie Glover plans is “The General in His Labyrinth,” based on the novel by Nobel Prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will be directed by Venezuela-born director Alberto Arvelo.

The other is “Toussaint,” which the statement said Glover plans to direct. The film will document the life of Haitian revolution leader Toussaint Louverture.

Glover met Chavez during visits to Venezuela, appearing on Chavez’ weekly talk show, and in the United States. The statement did not make clear whether the films would be produced at a new “cinema city“ that Chavez wants to build to counter what he has described the pernicious influence of Hollywood on Venezuelan culture. A similar impulse drove his foundation of an independent television network.

Posted by Chris Kraul, Bogota Bureau Chief