Oliver Stone has made feature films about John F. Kennedy, Richard M. Nixon and George W. Bush. Now, in his 78 minute documentary "South of the Border," Stone has turned to depicting the life of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's controversial populist president, and his reformist allies in South America.

"People who are often demonized, like Nixon and Bush and Chávez and Castro, fascinate me," Mr. Stone said in an interview during a tour to promote the film, which portrays Mr. Chávez as a benevolent, generous, tolerant and courageous leader who has been unjustly maligned. "It's a recurring thing," he added, that may suggest "a psychological attachment to the underdog" on his part.