Richness of the filmed archives, diversity of the testimonies collected, clarity of the commentary. By bringing together these three elements in their documentary devoted to the complex and tormented history of Chile since 1970, Lucie Pastor and Paul Le Grouyer have done a beautiful job.

To understand the paradoxes of a fractured Chilean society, where the desire for social justice clashes with the conservatism of part of the population, it was necessary to construct a classically chronological documentary so as not to lose track of the twists and turns of a political story, economic and social as violent as it is unpredictable.

Marxism, military dictatorship, ultra-liberalism, democracy, Chile is moving and is not a peaceful country. This is how, from the election of Salvador Allende, on September 4, 1970, to that of the young (then 35 years old) Gabriel Boric, on December 19, 2021, through the long period of dictatorship (from 1973 to 1990) by Augusto Pinochet, the recent history of the country is taking shape before our eyes.

Shocking images

What is striking in this documentary is the presence of cameras at the heart of extremely violent events. In the 1970s and 1980s, smartphones did not exist, but the courage of cameramen from European or American channels made it possible to record shocking images. Like these unleashed carabinieri charges in close-up, these brutal arrests live, these blows to women on the ground.

In Santiago, tense face-to-face confrontations between Allende supporters and far-right activists were also filmed. The famous slogan “The united people will never be defeated” is answered with “The united left is a bitch”, which gives a glimpse of the mood of the moment.

The images of the bombing of the presidential palace of La Moneda on September 11, 1973 by military aviation are followed by those, rarely seen, which were filmed in the following days. Searches, arrests, beatings, bodies mutilated and fished out of the river that crosses the capital, everything is filmed.

Even American television, although little suspect of pro-Allende sympathies, echoes a situation that is far from normal: “This country, yesterday one of the freest in Latin America, has become a military dictatorship. The junta claims to eradicate Marxism, but without specifying when and if it will allow the return of democracy,” comments the American reporter in a Santiago cordoned off by the army.

Beyond the shocking images, the interest of the documentary also lies in the explanations given by the multiple witnesses interviewed, whether activists or political leaders, such as the former socialist president (2014-2018) Michelle Bachelet.

From the pain of the many expelled, forced to leave their country for many years, to the daily fear experienced by the opponents who remained in Chile, from the deep economic misery affecting a large part of the population to the privileges of a minority, everything is shelled.

Understanding post-Pinochet Chile is not easier. How can we reconcile a divided and damaged country? Obviously no one has found the recipe yet. In September 2022, the project for a new Constitution providing for rights in health, education, social security and gender parity was rejected by nearly 62% of voters.