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Directed by Patricio Guzmán
La batalla de Chile (Parte 1). La insurrección de la burguesía
A grounded documentary with an ensemble cast.
The chronicle of the political tension in Chile in 1973 and of the violent counter revolution against the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende.
The Battle of Chile: Part I is showing in 1 cinema in London - next screening Saturday 24 October at 14:00 at Curzon Bloomsbury.
Next screenings: Saturday 24 October.
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Watch a reactionary party pull out every CIA-funded ratfucking technique it knows to thwart a popular socialist government before giving up and just shooting people.
Essential cinema. The Battle of Chile is one of the most significant documentaries ever made. Part I, subtitled The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie, is a valuable document of a country falling to organised chaos. Shot during the final months of the government of Salvador Allende, Part I details a socialist government gaining popularity whilst outside forces try to topple it. The film does not deny existing problems that ordinary people face, but it does present a government totally undermined by private business and foreign powers. Specifically the USA is cited numerous times for its connections to businesses and the armed forces.The Battle of Chile is direct and to the point, filled with words of the people gathered through street interviews and supplemented by narration that gives historical context. It is a film with a worldview, directly confronting fascism and imperialism, as such forces threatened to destroy Chile. The battle here was political, social, and also global due to foreign intervention. Shown within Part I are plenty of protests and a rise in militarism. The workers are divided, but such division only helps the bourgeoisie. The workers end up used as pawns to cripple the economy, with unions infiltrated by the powerful. Part I is a film of the bourgeoisie, but told from the view of the proletariat. It is a film made on the streets, showcasing workers demanding better even as a complex web of political and economic interests work in the background to undermine any progress. The middle class fell to fascism and the richest reaped all the benefits.The Battle of Chile: Part I is a staggering feat, a documentary filled with incredible footage and highlighting a harrowing and deliberate attempt to stifle justice for the working class. It's one of the most significant documentaries ever made and a necessary political statement.My Top Films of the 1970sMy Top Documentary Films
It chronicles the escalating political tensions and societal polarization in Chile during the final months of the democratically elected administration in 1973.
Patricio Guzmán directed the 1975 documentary, renowned for his influential contributions to political non-fiction cinema.
It has received widespread critical acclaim and recognition as one of the most significant political documentaries ever made.
