La tierra prometida

Premiered in 1973 writer/director Miguel Littin's Chilean film is a historical political drama set in rural Chile in the early 1930s where a group of the wandering, landless poor attempt to establish a communal community in a valley in Palmilla. But events conspire against them. Described as 'An epic filmed ballad from Chile combining history and myth, allegory and revolution, spectacle and poetry', Littin's political polemic is about the burning land issue and landlordism (something we're still struggling with in the 21st century!), and succeeds in being realist, impressionistic, symbolic, evocative, occasionally surrealistic, and has a striking, tragic climactic battle sequence. Featuring a Holy Mother, a red plane, burning crosses, and songs, it's about events which sadly were not the last false dawn for Chile (another one was just about to be realised), and as a film it maybe only of marginal interest to some audiences.

This is an excellent movie about the peasant struggle for land in Chile. I saw it in Rome, Italy in 1975.

I can't remember all the details of the movie but I was blown away by the cinematography, the colorful costumes and the Chilean "Nueva Cancion" sound-track (I think by Inti Illimani or Quilapayun whose music was very popular in Italy at the time). It is one of few movies that made such a deep impression that I remember after nearly forty years not just the title and general theme but at least one scene of peasants on horses with an exciting instrumental accompaniment vividly. I would love to know if this movie is still available for viewing by any medium as I would dearly like to see it again and write a fuller review.