Virginia Film Festival

In this beautifully visual and resonant film, master documentarian Patricio Guzmán examines Chile’s history of genocide and political repression through the prism of the coastal nation’s deep and ancient ties with oceans and water. With more than 2,600 miles of coastline, Guzmán brilliantly weaves Chile’s relationship with water into two of its most tragic stories: the almost-complete extermination of indigenous people in Patagonia, and the murderous regime of dictator Augusto Pinochet. Combining interviews, rarely seen historical footage, and jaw-dropping costal landscapes, the legendary filmmaker has created what Indiewire calls “a vivid, essential portal to understanding not only the heritage of a nation, but also the art of nonfiction cinema.” Introduction by Hector Amaya (U.Va.)