"I'm not from here; I'm from the other side of the river. Look at me!"- Gonzalo, Machuca-2004
http://www.moviepostershop.com/machuca-movie-poster-2004
Machuca
The film Machuca is set in Santiago just before Augusto
Pinochet’s military coup in 1973. The film is about a small newly formed group
of friends trying to understand the changing world around them. Gonzalo Infante
is a privileged boy who is intelligent, goes to private school, and is bullied
by the school tyrant. He soon befriends one of the new boys the school brings in
from the nearby shantytown. The two band together to protect themselves from
the bullies in school then become close friends by spending time at each
other’s homes. Pedro Machuca introduces Gonzalo to an entirely new world filled
with a kind of people he had never met before. Through Pedro, Gonzalo also
meets Silvana, a feisty and outspoken girl. The three attempt to find solid
ground while they navigate the political and social differences they are
finding in each other’s lives.
The
film follows a chronological order that remains fairly consistent throughout
the film. Key moments in the film revolve around the three friends’ relationship
with each other. The first key moment in the film is when the school bully pits
the two boys against each other, but Gonzalo refuses to hit Machuca for no
reason. I believe two other key moments include when the two boys see each
other’s homes for the first time. While this isn't as big a deal for Gonzalo, this
is a large milestone for Pedro. Many of Pedro’s other peers at school would
never think to invite their impoverished friend over to their home. But Gonzalo
does.
http://www.offoffoff.com/film/2005/machuca.php
Pedro then has Gonzalo over to his home. This is a larger step for the
two boys and the tension is apparent for the two characters. The boys’
friendship is further solidified through the rallies and protests they attend to
sell flags and earn money. The two boys become comfortable in and around each
other’s homes.Soon after this happens Pedro’s father is seen coming home in the middle of the day drunk
and seemingly out of work. He terrorizes the kids by saying that while Gonzalo’s
life will move on and continue to evolve and grow, Pedro’s will become static
in an empty existence of scrubbing toilets for a living.
At this
point in the film the political turmoil begins to affect the children’s
friendship. This is when Silvana spits on the car that Gonzalo’s mother is
riding in. Initially Gonzalo’s mother attempts to stand up for the girl, but
when Silvana turns on her, Gonzalo’s mother changes her opinion of Silvana
extremely quickly. She is no longer a little girl caught up in parade, but instead
she is seen as everything wrong with the communist party. Once Silvana finds
out that the woman was Gonzalo’s mother, the friendship officially begins to
fall apart with no apparent way to repair it. Silvana and Pedro begin to turn
on Gonzalo.
http://veehd.com/video/4587009_Machuca-2004-Spanish-EngSubs
In the next few day the government is shaken down and the military
begins to round up anyone who may be a communist sympathizer. Gonzalo races to
Pedro’s neighborhood to find out what was happening to his once friends.
Gonzalo arrives just in time to see Silvana and her father being ripped from their
home. Then in the most final kind of ending Silvana is shot and killed in front of the two boys while
trying to save her father from the soldiers. The Pinochet coup is the
checkpoint of no return for the boys’ friendship. Even if they were able to
work out their personal differences, the government powers in control would
make it next to impossible for the boys to ever become friends again.
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.13.05/machuca-0528.html
Gonzalo and Pedro
Gonzalo
Infante is a primary, fictional character. The audience is meant to relate to
him through his innocence and naivety. He knows that here is political unrest
in his country, but like most other children, doesn't entirely understand all
of the implications. The audience members can relate to him as he learns about
the other side of his country. Gonzalo represents innocence and innocence lost.
In the beginning of the film Gonzalo loosely values the same ideals that his
parents do (which are somewhat contradictory between his mother and father to begin with). When Gonzalo begins to see the other side of his city he begins to
question these values. He is exposed to communism and the uglier side of his
own social class. Gonzalo is representative of his own position in society
through the clothing he wears and the school his parents pay for him to attend.
He is unrepresentative of his position in society by “crossing the border” and
going into the impoverished side of town. He also defies the norm by attending
rallies of both sides and learning about earning a living.
Pedro
Machuca is a primary, fictional character. Pedro’s life of hardship is what endears
him to the audience. The audience is meant to feel sorry for Pedro and his
family. Because of this the audience becomes a little more open to the idea of communism
and the way it may help Pedro, his family, and his community. Pedro’s character
represents hard work and family loyalty. Pedro values hard work and friendship.
He also values fair and equal opportunities for all people. This never changes
throughout the film, except for his duplicity towards Gonzalo near the end of
the film.
Silvana
is a fictional primary character. Silvana’s outspoken personality and bluntness
makes her seem courageous and strong to the audience. Her personality is
reminiscent of an angsty junior high preteen and that helps the audience relate
to her harsh outer layer. In stark contrast to Pedro and Gonzalo, Silvana
represents everything other than innocence. Her values are fixed and never
waver through the film. She knows what she wants, and knows how to manipulate
people to get it. Silvana represents rebellion.
https://theworldonfilm.wordpress.com/tag/machuca/
Father
McEnroe is based off a real figure in history, the individual the film is
dedicated to. The audience is meant to relate to Father McEnroe’s anger at the
end of the film. His need to help people and selflessness are not only part of
his profession, but also the things he values the most. This doesn't change
throughout the film. When his outrage towards the military men running the
school out ways his calm demeanor he removes the Holy Spirit from the cathedral
and is then escorted from the premises. Father McEnroe represents everything
that is fair and good.
The
subtext of the film suggests that Allende’s presidency offered optimism for
change that would affect the classes. This hope was generally for the impoverished.
The coup ended all hope of the social change. The film offers a theme of
innocence lost. The children featured in this film fight against all odds to
keep their friendship alive. Pedro and Silvana’s innocence was lost much before
Gonzalo’s, although his was jaded by his mother’s affair. The children’s
government attempted to create peace but ultimately failed, and this is tragedy
was reflected in the children.
http://www.flicks.co.nz/movie/machuca/
References
- Pamela Constable and Arturo Valenzuela, “The War” in A Nation of Enemies: Chile Under Pinochet
- Machuca PowerPoint
No comments:
Post a Comment