La mémoire éternelle

As "The Eternal Memory" (2023 release from Chile; 84 min.) opens, we are introduced to Augusto and Pauli, a couple that has been together over 20 years. Augusto has Alzheimer's and Pauli lovingly takes care of him. We then go back in time, to the days when Augusto was a respected TV reporter who covered the Pinochet era, and when Pauli was a respected actress who eventually became Chile's Minister of Culture. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is directed by Maite Alberdi, who also directed "The Mole Agent", an Oscar-nominated documentary. Here she follows the descent of one man's descent into the hell that is Alzheimer's, and how his wife deals with it. Let me state upfront that my dad dealt with this horrible disease for years up until his death in 2007. It was as if I was watching my dad in this documentary. Exactly the same anguish, desperation, confusion, frustration ("What's wrong with me? I need help!"). This isn't the Hollywood version of Alzheimer's, none of which worse than the pathetic 2014 movie "Still Alice" (for which Julianne Moore won an Oscar no less). This documentary shows what Alzheimer's is really like: a vicious, uncurable disease that knows no mercy, and which never has a happy Hollywood ending, as this documentary heartbreakingly demonstrates.

"The Eternal Memory" is currently rated 93% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. Just a few days ago, it also received a well-deserved Best Documentary Oscar nomination. The movie is currently streaming on Paramount+ , where I just watched it last night. If you are interested in Alzheimer's for whatever reason, do yourself a favor: check this out sooner rather than later, and draw your own conclusion.

In The Eternal Memory, there is a strong emotional charge from the first moment, which is maintained until the last seconds. This is the hook for the general audience, since emotionality is associated with relatable events. My biggest problem with this documentary is that the story loses its direction in monotony, falling into a plot dead end from which it cannot escape. It seems more like a video diary of the progression of one of the protagonists' illness, which also doesn't quite work, since there are inexplicable time jumps and events that remain unmentioned.

The documentary only relies on its high emotionality to attract an audience and there is nothing more to tell.

It's not completely flat and boring, but I would recommend other works alluding to the topic in question, such as the films Still Alice or The Father.

Absolutely captivating! I was so lost in the story that I had no idea how much time had gone by. The storytelling, as it moves from past to present, felt like an emotional symphony. Understanding Spanish made it so much more moving. Felt like watching The Notebook for the first time and in a documentary. A masterpiece that stirred my emotions like no other film in years.

Moreover, this documentary highlights the profound talent of women directors, showcasing their ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply. It's a testament to the need for more recognition for this exceptional contribution to the film industry. Deserves a much higher rating!

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.