The Battle of Chile: Part II (1976)

Taking place during the Chilean Coup d'état in 1973, this film opens with the attempted military coup of June 1973, which is put down by troops loyal to the government. The left is divided ... See full summary »

Director:

Patricio Guzmán

Writers:

Jose Bartolome (screenplay), Pedro Chaskel (screenplay)

Stars:

Salvador Allende, Carlos Altamirano, Fernando Castillo

Cast

Credited cast:
Salvador Allende	...	Self (archive footage)
Carlos Altamirano	...	Self - Secretario General Partido Socialista (archive footage)
Fernando Castillo	...	Self - Rector Universidad Católica Demócratacristiano (archive footage)
Luis Corvalán	...	Self - Secretario General Partido Comunista (archive footage)
Juan Cáceres	...	Self - Jefe del Comando de Abastecimiento Directo (archive footage)
Miguel Enriquez	...	Self - Secretario General del Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria MIR (archive footage)
Abilio Fernández	...	Self - Narrador
Víctor García Garzena	...	Self - Diputado P. Nacional (archive footage)
Jaime Gazmuri	...	Self - Secretario General (archive footage)
Oscar Guillermo Garretón	...	Self - Secretario General Partido MAPU (archive footage)
Gustavo Leigh	...	Self (archive footage) (as General Gustavo Leigh)
César Mendoza	...	Self (archive footage) (as General César Mendoza)
J. Toribio Merino	...	Self (archive footage) (as Almirante José Toribio Merino)
Augusto Pinochet	...	Self (archive footage) (as General Augusto Pinochet)
Alejandro Rojas	...	Self - Diputado Comunista (archive footage)

Storyline

Taking place during the Chilean Coup d'état in 1973, this film opens with the attempted military coup of June 1973, which is put down by troops loyal to the government. The left is divided over strategy, while the right methodically lays the groundwork for the military seizure of power. The film's dramatic concluding sequence documents the coup d'etat, including Allende's last radio messages to the people of Chile, footage of the military assault on the presidential palace, and that evening's televised presentation of the new military junta.

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Plot Keywords:

coup d'etat | chile | popular resistance | concentration camp | torture | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

Salvador Allende: History is ours, and the people make it to build a better society.

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Connections

Referenced in Chile, the Obstinate Memory (1997)

User Reviews

Not quite as powerful as part 1, but you sure have to admire how the film was made.

The three "Battle of Chile" films are documentaries that were made in a most unusual way. Actual footage (most black & white 8mm) of the overthrow of the Allende government was made and smuggled out of the country. Then, it was pieced together years later and released in three parts. Now they could have probably shoved it all into one film but by stretching it out, you get a very thorough look at the process. However, because the three films were brought out years apart, there is LOTS of overlap--lots. Unfortunately, because the crackdown on the left was so extreme, you also get little footage of the atrocities--but interviews with families whose members simply disappeared.

Part two does NOT pick up immediately after part one--it more runs in parallel at times. It follows the steps leading from government disunity and an initial coup (that failed) to the successful coup only a short time later.

Even if you are more to the right politically, this is an interesting film (as are the other two), as it's rare to see a film document, through live film, the fall of the government. Plus, although I don't think a communist-socialist government is a very good form of government, it WAS legally elected and you can't feel happy about coups and assassinations. It is compelling and makes me, as an American, feel a big sad about our now admitted involvement in toppling the government. And, because it challenges me, I felt it more interesting than a film about something with which I already heartily agree. Well worth seeing as a very interesting history lesson.

Details

Official Sites:

Icarus Films [United States] Website

Country:

Cuba Chile France

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

13 March 1976 (Cuba)

Also Known As:

The Battle of Chile: Part II

Company Credits

Production Co:

Equipe Tercer Ano, Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industrias Cinematográficos (ICAIC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White