Actas de Marusia by Miguel Littín
The 53rd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), currently underway, is showcasing the special sidebar ‘Focus: Chile in the Heart’ in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the military coup that toppled the democratically elected government of President Salvador Allende in the South American country.
Featuring films by directors such as Patricio Guzmán, Miguel Littín, Raúl Ruiz, and Valeria Sarmiento, among others, the program comprises 25 features and shorts covering the first decade of Chilean cinema production made in exile. It combines established classics with shorts and television works that have rarely been seen since their original presentation.
Following the coup against the democratically elected government of Chile and the assassination of the nation’s president, Salvador Allende, on September 11th, 1973, masses of Chileans fled the country for uncertain futures. In 1974, catalyzed by works like Sergio Castilla’s Pinochet: fascista, asesino, traidor, agente del imperialismo and Raúl Ruiz’s Dialogue d’exilés, a historically unique phenomenon emerged: Chilean cinema in exile.
The majority of Chile’s film culture departed and dispersed across different nations, including already established auteurs like Patricio Guzmán [The Battle Of Chile (Part 1): The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie'], Miguel Littín (Actas de Marusia), and Helvio Soto (La triple muerte del tercer personaje), as well as film students like Sebastián Alarcón (Night over Chile), Leo Mendoza (Reír o no reír), or Luis Mora (Night of the Captain).
Remarkably, the resulting production forms a coherent whole, continuing the tradition of Chilean cinema of the Unidad Popular and protesting against fascism at home—often presenting Chile as an exemplar of the forms of oppression and terrorism found worldwide.
As part of the program, IFFR will host a special talk on Chilean cinema in exile on January 31. The session will feature directors Angelina Vázquez and Miguel Littín and will be moderated by José Miguel Palacios, Assistant Professor in the Department of Film & Electronic Arts at CSU Long Beach."
