Review of Machuca (2004) by Bruno C — 13 Oct 2007
Amazing movie from Chile, that takes us back to the 1970's when Pinochet was coming to power...recreates the era wonderfully and authentically (from what I've heard from people that lived there during that time), focusing on the son of an upper class family, who befriends a classmate from a poor background.
The acting is phenomenal, it plays out as a story of friendship that accentuates the political, economic and social divides that exist so markedly in Latin America, as we see through the eyes of Gonzalo and his place on the higher tiers of society. The divisions become even more fractured as the coup occurs in Chile towards the end of the movie, with the military and right wing upper class crushing any socialist/communist organizing...there's quite a bit of symbolism but not so much that it overtakes the general atmosphere recreated here of the 70's and the wonderful relationships developed between our protagonist, Machuca (the poor classmate) and his family/friends that are involved with some of the labor unions/marches.
This might be one of the best movies out of Chile, if not all Latin America in many recent decades.
This review of Machuca (2004) was written by Bruno C on 13 Oct 2007.
Machuca has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
