Following on from this somewhat “ initial ” account , his documentary choices to date have varied hugely . But the aspect which , some forty years after the events , established him as a filmmaker on the global stage was another trilogy , comprising three feature length films Nostalgia for the Light ( 2019 ), The Pearl Button ( 2015 ), and The Cordillera of Dreams ( 2019 ). This time from the perspective of memory , expressing it with a unique and perfectly recognisable style , which explores the past through the present , entangling timelines and deepening the reflection with global echoes . I must confess that my favourite film of his is Nostalgia for the Light , whose story fascinatingly blends the activity of scientists stargazing in the Atacama Desert with the search for relatives who disappeared during the dictatorship . Past , present and future intertwine , to the backdrop of Chile ’ s tragic political history , leading to a philosophical reflection expressed in captivating images in a story guided by the recognisable gentle voice-over of the director .
Lauded and awarded prizes , Patricio Guzmán ’ s work is a model to be followed , in particular among new generations of directors , for whom film continues more than ever today to be a powerful tool to condemn and resist against the dictatorial regimes which , beyond Latin America , have spread during the century and continue to do so , unfortunately . His legacy will undoubtedly live on in the history of film for his defence of a tireless “ obstinate memory ”, to paraphrase the title of one of his films , to build a fairer future .
1 . Patricio Guzmán during the shooting of The Cordillera of Dreams ( 2019 ). Promotional image .
INTERVIEW
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