Machuca (Chile, 2005)

Machuca is another great South American movie. It takes place in Santiago, Chile, in 1973, while the dictatorship from Pinochet is blooming into control of the State. In the center of this political storm, two young boys seat side by side in an English private school. Gonzalo and Pedro Machuca become friends despite their different backgrounds and opposite ways of life.

The drama and sadness comes from realizing that the rich neighborhood is completely unaware of the violence and repression that happens across town. While rich citizens worry about material depravation brought by the socialist government, the rest of the population barely survives in the middle of the turmoil.

Machuca is a master piece, that re-enact daily life in 1973 through the eyes of two children. These two children are the only witnesses to the senseless political chaos that is in place.

Andres Wood has a great camera action and attention to details. A can of condensed milk, graffiti words on a wall and flags have a multitude of meanings in this narrative. Is the milk that sweeten also the milk that saddens? How meaningful can words and colorful flags be once they are gone? How do we really know which side we will cheer for today?

Director: Andres Wood, 2005
With Ariel Mateluna and Matias Quer

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