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MACHUCA by Andrés Wood

Machuca (2004)

Direction: Andrés Wood. Screenplay: Andrés Wood, Roberto Brodsky, and Mamoun Hassan. Cast: Matías Quer, Ariel Mateluna, Manuela Martelli, Aline Küppenheim, Ernesto Malbran, Tamara Acosta, Francisco Reyes

 

GROWING TRAUMAS

Machuca by Andres WoodMachuca is a generally well-made, at times moving depiction of a difficult historical period — Chile on the verge of the military coup that deposed Salvador Allende — as seen through the eyes of three pre-adolescents from different social classes.

Despite an excessive use of hip sounds from the ’70s that tend to be more distracting than mood enhancing, director and co-screenwriter Andrés Wood does manage to capture the feel of early 1970s Chile, especially in the street scenes.

As a plus, Wood has an excellent grip on his solid cast, extracting several outstanding performances.

At the 2004 edition of the AFI FEST in Los Angeles, Wood stated that Chilean law forbids the negative portrayal of that country’s military on screen. Yet, Wood added that no one has come after him because of Machuca, which presents the Chilean military in a highly negative light. Some right-wing Chileans, however, have accused the film of distorting history.

Machuca was nominated for a Goya in the best Spanish-language foreign film category.

Reviewed at the AFI FEST.

 

PHIL-FOR-SHORT

THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE

THE LETTER

ONE HYSTERICAL NIGHT

IN OLD ARIZONA

THE LOST CITY

IN GOOD COMPANY

THE HURRICANE

JEWEL ROBBERY

DESPERATE

 

 

 

One Response to “MACHUCA by Andrés Wood”

  1. on 17 Mar 2008 at 3:43 pm Filippo

    I love that film. Andres Woods was able to capture the Chile of the 70s. Everyone should see it.

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