alahya

As chilean, we are not far from the country complexities. At the time, natives in the southernmost part of the country were less prone to conflicts due to harsh weather conditions; thus developing a rich, peaceful and isolated culture. That until these lands were deemed perfect for farming, and the worlds collided violently. Chile was a newly created nation, with all the vices from the west and huge influence of the colonizer powers. The story carries some details that are hard to prove, but all in all, it is true to events; especially when you dive into the intricate path of the mestizos, who dwell between collaborators and victims. The movie sheds light on concealing mass rapes, traffic, and murders of southern indigenous people, followed by their coercion into "reconciliation" and assimilation into the Nation-State. That said, it is not an easy watch, but the beauty of the photography and the slow pace of the direction provides a calming narrative that helps to cope with the worst. Isolation is key, leaving much space to the unknown.

Personally, I loved how the role of the women provides a meaningful stand in the struggle of white supremacy and patriarchal violence. Growing up in the dictatorship of the 80's, we never truly understood our heritage, and stories were badly told back then. Being chilean was shameful, and all the hints of resistance were labeled badly, in line with the extreme government views. Today, I believe these movies are more necessary than ever, because we keep on failing to our own shared humanity consistently, erasing a legacy imposible to retrieve. Now Selk'nam, Yaganes and Kawésqar people are no longer here to tell their stories, so we can only imagine how they might have felt. Still, the narrative remains incomplete.

As chilean I felt so proud of this movie. The story is factual and accurate (except for the main character, that is). The author and the book are one of our dear readings, so I felt moved, and prompt to learn more about the background. Little did I know about Maria Carolina Geel and her own deeds at the time, and how Gabriela Mistral gave her a hand to set her free. Same as in the film, I don't believe that any woman close to the culture can feel uninvited somehow, and being dragged to experience a bit of the same sorority . The movie is pleasure to watch, well written and narrated; calm and introspective. Some criticism can be harsh, but quite real and again, accurate. At some point, there was a fight inside of me with the main character, but I couldn't help being absorbed by a recurrent call for compassion that leaves so much space for self expression. Many arguments were constructed subtlety, yet that wasn't the true intention. Not even the main trigger was relevant. The movie moves on a different layer, far from the mainstream. If you are looking for an experience rather than mere entertainment, this might be your option.