Colonia Dignidad: Eine deutsche Sekte in Chile

Wow It's rather difficult to know where to start reviewing this excellent 6 part documentary series that details the cult Paul Schäfer created in Post World War 2 Germany which he later brought to Chile to hide from the watchfull eyes of authorities who had been seeking him. For nearly 40 years he had practically put dozens and dozens of people into a state of mind control, the tools with which he does this aren't that unfamiliar if one looks at other cults.... He prayed upon vulnerable people and used his charisma (driven by a big ego), Christianity and the breaking down of any ego other adult individuals had.

The colony initially forms from a group of Germans who under the influence of Schäfer followed him to the other side of the world to Chile, were the recieved land from the Chilean government. A German community then grows with great rapidness, whose technological level fars outstrips local neighbouring communities.

New childrean over the years were brought into the camp through nefarious means, some very young children who were born in Germany, had been sent out to relatives at the colony to live, others were taken from the neighbouring communities and alas some born amongst the colonists themselves. The sad thing about the human mind is that we aren't born with an ability to think critically at a high level. So the young children at the camp were very easy targets of Schäfer's mode of brian washing..... And..... that brain washing led to children being sexually abuse. The children then believed it was normal behaviour. Not having been taught otherwise...

How could this have went on for so long, well Schäfer being the good strategist that he was. Brainwashed everyone close to him, helped the famous dictator Pinochet in horrendous crimes when he held power for a long time, then he lawyerd up when alligations of child sex abuse were eventually started to arise. Eventually justice caught up with him after fleeing to Argentina and he was forced to return to Chile to face the law. (some might say reciving mild justice considering what he did).

The documentary interviews many people, those who were children from the time the Colony started, older people who have been arrested for being implicated in the horrendous crimes carried out at the colony during the Pinochet years..... Honestly for some of the people shown I feel some deal empathy for. Those who were truely brainwashed and knew no better from a young age. But older people who already had the faculty of critical thinking prior to even knowing Schäfer and then worked along side him to carry out criminal activities. I felt zero sympathy for, and I truely question if I believe half their statements of regret or ignorance...... then there was the vicitims who blew the bubble open and they are the true heros of the show. Being able to overcome their fears of possible death in order to flee and fight something that is so inherently wrong. Then there are a few people who I couldn't figure out if they knew or didn't know what happened at the camp or if they truely cared. Based on their statements throughout and body language.

Definitely worth watching for people who like, shows about about cults, crime, rat lines in south america or anything of that nature. It makes for a great converstion with someone who has watched it also. A solid 8/10.

Apparently, the documentary filmmakers could not decide. There are suc parts, the interesting ones are the first and the sixth as they actually tell the story of of the colony. The middle four are about complicated history of Chile. It is mildly interesting how a colony became a charity organization and survived virtually outside of Chilean jurisdiction, but that could have been covered in 30 minutes. Worse, the filmmakers leave us with an impression that few hundred German farmers and artisans were influencing the fate of 17 millions strong nation and were involved in all sorts of sinister political activities. For example, we are told that using their charity status they were illegally importing guns. Soon after we learn that it was just one rusted submachine gun which they reverse engineered and built 50 copies for self defense. Indeed, that shook Chilean military to the core. At the same time, important details are not covered. Colonists ran a charity hospital, but who were the doctors? Colonists were forbidden to marry, but we see plenty of blind children all the time. How many colonists were there? The initial number given is 300, surely they could not dominate Chilean society. It is really a shame that documentary went off the rails so quickly as the subject is indeed fascinating.

Interesting well made documentary, however it is too long and slow. Some of the interviews to particular characters drag on way too long, to the point of becoming boring and sometimes ridiculous (also due to the bad american dubbing). However the last episode picks up pace and reveals more about each of the individual stories. The weird intermediate clips of the brainwashed followers sometimes seem a bit unnecessary and taken out of context.

The link to the rise to power of dictator Pinochet is particularly informative. Over all a good engaging documentary.

Recently viewed this in depth look at Paul Schafer, the founder of Colonial Dignidad.

I implore you to page down and move language to original spanish with english subtitles as it has been dubbed over in spanish because of the german spoken, giving it a very mockumentary feel as another reviewer noted.

Changing language to the original made an immense difference in my viewing of this series and found it to be excellent.

The subject matter is interesting, but this documentary does a poor job telling it. Various interviews are chopped into small segments, and then "stitched" together in an almost incoherent story.