Machuca (2004)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Andrés Wood

Writers:

Eliseo Altunaga (writer)
Roberto Brodsky (writer)

Release Date:

11 June 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Two boys observe a political coup in their native Chile.

Plot Keywords:

Chile | Friend | Political | Pinochet | Socialist

Awards:

9 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Matías Quer	...	Gonzalo Infante
Cynthia Choukair	...	Starring
Ariel Mateluna	...	Pedro Machuca
Manuela Martelli	...	Silvana
Ernesto Malbran	...	Father McEnroe
Aline Küppenheim	...	María Luisa Infante
Federico Luppi	...	Roberto Ochagavía
Francisco Reyes	...	Patricio Infante
Luis Dubó	...	Ismael Machuca
Tamara Acosta	...	Juana
Maria Olga Matte	...	Miss Gilda
Gabriela Medina	...	Lucy
Tiago Correa	...	Pablo
Alejandro Trejo	...	Willi
Andrea García-Huidobro	...	Isabel

Also Known As:

Mon ami Machuca (France)

Runtime:

USA:121 min

Country:

Chile | Spain | UK | France

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Germany:12 | Ireland:15A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:16 (canton of St. Gallen) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Santiago, Chile

Trivia:

The book that Gonzalo's mother's friend gives to him is "The Lone Ranger", the story of a man who befriends an Indian.

Movie Connections:

References The Lone Ranger (1956)

A Truly Outstanding Piece of Film-making

This film reaches back and looks at history in a very intimate and personal way. Its young protagonist is shown, growing up, not quite understanding what is happening around him. His own life is the middle of a crisis, and suddenly he is in the middle of his own country's political storm. Gonzalo is one of the lucky ones, a young man who escaped the horrors while he learned how to become a better human being.

Andres Wood's direction is assured and gentle. He shows his love of his country, its main characters, his own history (there are strong hints at this being at least auto-biographical). His film is beautifully scored and photographed; in addition to having one of the best performances ever by a group of children. The movie moves along quietly, touching us, teaching us, and taking us along in an unforgettable study of humanity at its worst and its best.