Machuca (2004)

Two boys observe a political coup in their native Chile.

Director:

Andrés Wood

Writers:

Eliseo Altunaga, Roberto Brodsky

Stars:

Matías Quer, Ariel Mateluna, Manuela Martelli

12 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matías Quer	...	Gonzalo Infante
Ariel Mateluna	...	Pedro Machuca
Manuela Martelli	...	Silvana
Aline Küppenheim	...	María Luisa Infante (as Aline Kuppenheim)
Ernesto Malbran	...	Father McEnroe
Tamara Acosta	...	Juana
Francisco Reyes	...	Patricio Infante
Alejandro Trejo	...	Willy
Maria Olga Matte	...	Miss Gilda
Gabriela Medina	...	Lucy
Luis Dubó	...	Ismael Machuca
Andrea García-Huidobro	...	Isabel
Tiago Correa	...	Pablo
Pablo Krögh	...	Colonel Sotomayor
Federico Luppi	...	Roberto Ochagavía

Storyline

Santiago, capital of Chile during the Marxist government of elected, highly controversial president Salvador Allende. Father McEnroe supports his leftist views by introducing a program at the prestigious "collegio" (Catholic prep school) St. Patrick to allow free admission of some proletarian kids. One of them is Pedro Machuca, slum-raised son of the cleaning lady in Gonzalo Infante's liberal-bourgeois home. Yet the new classmates become buddies, paradoxically protesting together as Gonzalo gets adopted by Pedro's slum family and gang. But the adults spoil that too, not in the least when general Pinochet's coup ousts Allende, and supporters such as McEnroe.

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Plot Keywords:

chile | student | friend | classmate | historical event | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Chile Spain UK France

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

11 June 2004 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Machuca, mein Freund

Filming Locations:

Santiago, Chile

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wood Producciones, Tornasol Films, Mamoun Hassan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because of Chile's newborn cinematographic industry there's a few number of professional actors. Since the child actors in the movie were non-professional, the director worked with them for 7 months prior to the shooting.

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Goofs

Silvana is standing by the outhouse, then moments later, after camera pans, appears on the other side of Gonzalo.

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Quotes

Patricio Infante: Socialism might be better for Chile but not for us.

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Crazy Credits

In the credits at the beginning of the film, the last letter of each word drifts slowly to the right separating from the names

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Connections

References Kojak (1973)

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Soundtracks

Ai Amor
Written and performed by Buddy Richard

User Reviews

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.