Docs Ireland 2023: My Imaginary Country
Docs Ireland 2023 presents the legendary Chilean documentarian Patrició Guzman's new film My Imaginary Country (2022), about recent democratic protests in Chile.
October 2019, an unexpected revolution, a social explosion. One and a half million people demonstrated in the streets of Santiago for more democracy, a more dignified life, a better education, a better health system and a new Constitution. Chile had recovered its memory. The event I had been waiting for since my student struggles in 1973 finally materialised.
One day, without warning, a revolution exploded. It was the event that master documentarian Patricio Guzmán had been waiting for all his life: a million and a half people in the streets of Santiago, Chile, demanding justice, education, health care, and a new constitution to replace the strident rules imposed on the country during the Pinochet military dictatorship. Urgent and inspired, My Imaginary Country features harrowing front-line protest footage and interviews with dynamic activist leaders and powerfully connects Chile’s complex, bloody history to contemporary revolutionary social movements and the election of a new president.
Documentary Master Guzman’s skill is on display from the first frame. His unique interviewing style somehow always accesses the emotional, his drone shots are far from the cliched norm. But as always, the highlight is the incredible and searing action on the streets at political demonstrations – something he almost invented on film in The Battle for Chile (1973).
