La memoria infinita

Filmed during the COVID lockdown, this really is a poignant and affecting love story. We are introduced to Augusto Gongora and his wife Paulina Urrutia. The former was an accomplished television journalist in Chile during it's frequently turbulent times, she an acclaimed actress and they have, by 2023, been married for a quarter of a century. What we discover quickly is that he is suffering from Alzheimer's and as the pair continue through the life, both dread what they know to be coming: the day when he will no longer know who she is. This is one of those rare documentaries where the actuality of the political trouble and strife actually serve to deliver us a bit of a breather from the intensity of this most human of stories as the couple wake up each morning without any idea what that day may bring. The lockdown scenario and the hand-held photography ensures that there are few other characters to divert our focus from this intimate and heart-rending depiction of their determination not to allow this disease to prevail any earlier than they have to. Their habits and routines are designed to elicit as many memories and triggers as possible to enable Augusto to hold onto his soul for just that bit longer, but he isn't a King Canute and even throughout the timeframe of this documentary we see that they cannot thwart the inevitable. It's not some melancholy affair, though. Their grandchildren enliven things and this couple are still very much up for the joys of life. There is plenty of laughter to remind us that it's life they want to live, not just an existence they wish to seek. From an observer's perspective we also get a little of the sense of the frustration felt by this man who, as a journalist, was a voracious reader but who can no longer enjoy his vast library. We also see a dedication and affection from Paulina who must also recalibrate from time to time to ensure that she doesn't succumb to the relentless pressures of living such an unpredictable life. This isn't an easy watch, but over ninety minutes we get an insight into just how spirit and a sense of humour can still make a difference.

Saw this at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

"The Eternal Memory" is a story about Augusto and Paulina have been together for 25 years. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Both fear the day he no longer recognizes her. The film was one of the best documentaries from this years festival as the film was able to capture the relationship between the couple with heartwarming sequences. Director Maite Alberdi was able to perfectly capture life of having Alzheimer's disease and was able to make the characters very interesting to observe. Alzheimer's disease is a disease that is difficult to cure and it's interesting to see a story revolving around a real couple going through this process and seeing how they are able to resolve their conflicts.

Many archival footages used to describe the setting and situations were purposeful and well informative. Many of the dialogue moments were very interesting as it was very fun to observe and listen to the two main lead characters to talk about their lives and love. Along with other participants, there are some many interesting conversations provided and the tone goes from sometimes comedic and touching at the same time. From someone who has a relative who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, the film does hit home pretty hard.

Overall, it's a great documentary and it's one of the best at Sundance.

Rating: A-

The movie "The Eternal Memory" is a Chilean documentary that delves into the resilience of love in the face of memory loss. Director Maite Alberdi, known for her other documentary "The Mole Agent," takes us back in time to explore the lives of Augusto Gongora and Paulina Urritia, a couple recognized for their famous careers in Chile-he as journalist and writer, and she as an actress. Using archival footage, the director highlights Augusto's political activism during Pinochet's dictatorship, alongside his relationship with his wife Paulina. They both confront the fear that his deteriorating memory might one day erase their love. Paulina's persistent struggle to keep her presence alive in Augusto's memory is both deeply touching and sad.

This documentary is a sensitive and poignant documentary that discusses the suffering that everyone feels when the memory of a loved one begins to fade, exactly like smoke that gradually evaporates.

The final half hour of the movie appears to be abruptly edited, leaving us with a detailed understanding of the couple's life together but lacking insight into the progression of Alzheimer's and its impact on both.

Greetings again from the darkness. Augusto and Paulina are a real couple facing real challenges in the real world. Their challenges aren't related to where to head for dinner or whether Augusto will leave the toilet seat up or down. No, their daily challenges are whether Augusto will wake up and recognize his wife, or even know his own name. Chilean Documentarian Maite Alberti climbs inside this relationship to show us the real impact of Alzheimer's Disease, and does so expertly and intimately.

Augusto Gongora was a professional News Reporter/Journalist during the Pinochet regime, and Paulina Urrutia was a successful actor ... both well known in their country. We even see clips and archival newsreels of Augusto's work. However, filmed during COVID, almost the entirety of the film is focused on these two people taking each day as it comes ... the good days and the not-so-good days. And perhaps 'moments' is a better measure than days, as this cruel disease can shift quickly. Paulina handled much of the camera work so the director and crew could keep safe distance during the pandemic, and the result is a few blurry shots, none of which detract from what we are meant to see.

Paulina helps Augusto with his memory of work and kids. She helps him take a shower. She reads to him when they take walks, and she cringes as he rides a bicycle. She helps him with his eye protection as they view the eclipse. They even treasure the time they can dance together. There are many times they share a laugh, and there are times Paulina cries alone or Augusto appears lost. Mostly they have their tender moments which define the relationship that they so want to hold on to ... all while surrounded by Augusto's lifelong collection of books that fill the house - most of which he can no longer read.

Theirs is a love story. And it's real.

It's a documentary about a Chilean couple whose younger wife supports her husband, who has Alzheimer's.

Augusto Góngora was a prominent journalist and later cultural commentator on Chilean Public Television, beginning with the Pinochet years and following. He has two children; the documentary says nothing about his first wife. He has been in a relationship with actress Paulina Urrutia since 1997; they married in about 2017, several years after Góngora was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

The documentary follows their interaction, especially during COVID-19, together with flashbacks to home movies and television clips from happier times when Góngora was practicing his profession. One of Góngora's post-Pinochet books reflected on cultural memories related to those difficult years. The documentary fashions a philosophical connection between the earlier cultural memory and the tragedy of Góngora's memory loss.

"The Eternal Memory" is a very personal movie. At first, I wondered if it was contrived reality TV, given the amiable manner in which the film initially portrays Góngora. But later, his confusion and increasing anxiety are plainly depicted. I'm not sure the memory linkage between Góngora's earlier professional life and later personal state is effective. But the film is gripping and is a challenging watch for people personally connected to someone with Alzheimer's Disease.