Nostalgia for the Light

Question 1

What was the Unidad Popular (UP)?

Answer 1

A coalition of the leftist parties of Chile that supported Allende’s presidency and peaceful transition into socialism.

Question 2

How did the US government view Allende’s election in 1970 and what actions did it take in response?

Answer 2

The US was interested in Chile’s Frei government and its reformist regime, it subsequently extensively financed Chile.

Question 3

What was the “Chilean way/la via chilena”?

Answer 3

A path to socialism introduced by President Salvador Allende.

Question 4

What were the UP’s economic policies?

Answer 4

The UP tried to stabilize the Chilean economy with populist policies that often left the voices of the lower classes unheard.

Question 5

How (and when) did Augusto Pinochet come to power and destroy the country’s political system?

Answer 5

Pinochet came into power in 1973 by, alongside supporters, threatening military action against all who stood in their way.

Question 6

Who were the “Chicago Boys” (neoliberalism, “Chile Project”) and what were their economic policies in Chile?

Answer 6

The Chicago boys were Chilean economists trained at the University of Chicago, credited with the positive change in Chile’s economy.

Question 7

What was the result of the 1988 plebescite?

Answer 7

Pinochet’s position in government ended after 16 years in power.

Question 8

What happened to Pinochet while visiting London in 1998?

Answer 8

Pinochet faced an unsuccessful detention.

Question 9

Also note… The following headline from 2015 and compare it with the final sentence of our chapter published in 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/world/americas/chile-joins-other-latin-american-nations-shaken-by-scandal.html?_r=0

Answer 9

The chapter states “Chilean democracy looks extremely solid” and the article is literally about scandals shaking Chilean democracy and challenging that solidity.

Question 10

How did Chile deal with memory during its transition to democracy? What did “consensus” entail and who benefittedfrom it?

Answer 10

Chile decided to “forget” and did not prosecute military human rights abusers, they just decided to problematically move on without looking back at those who wronged and killed its citizens. The “consensus” dealt with the disappearing of leftist independent media that emerged during the dictatorship by the right.

Question 11

How do historical memory and the ideology of neoliberalismrelate? In what ways do we see an implicit critique ofneoliberalism in Nostalgia for the Light?

Answer 11

Historical memory is antithetical to neoliberalism becauseneoliberalism depends of “forced uselessness”, and it takes meaning out of history. In Nostalgia we hear of the negative effects of Chile’s attempt at Neoliberalism through an oral history.

Question 12

The film draws a series of parallels across disciplines of study and human exploits. How are archaeology and astronomy related?

Answer 12

Archeology and astronomy are often compared in the film due to the fact that they both surround uncovering a “history”.Archaeology is the study of human history and origins while astronomy is concerned with tracing the origins of the universe and human history.

Question 13

What do we learn about time in the film?

Answer 13

Time is subjective and often delayed, the only “real time” we experience is within out mind and thoughts.

Question 14

How are Miguel and Anita a metaphor for Chile?

Answer 14

While Miguel devotes his life to remembering, his wife Anita has Alzheimer’s and has a struggle to do so.

Question 15

What is the film’s thesis on memory?

Answer 15

Memory can be used to heal the pains of the past.

Question 16

How does the film convey its thesis through narrative?

Answer 16

The film features the women of Chile who search the desert for the remains of their loved ones who have been disappeared by the government in the 70’s.

Question 17

How do you interpret the title? Although Shaw published her book before Nostalgia for the Light was made, the title of her Chilean film chapter, “Searching the Past for the Future,” is still relevant. Discuss.

Answer 17

“Nostalgia for Light” perfectly combines the two elements of the film, astronomy and the search for bodies in Chile’s Atacama desert. When I think about the title I reflect on the darkness of the uncovered buried victims in who have not seen the light of day since the injustices that occurred against them.

Question 18

According to Julianne Burton (in Blaine), what are the four modes of the documentary film? Which does Nostalgia for the Light utilize?

Answer 18

Observational, expository, interactive, and reflective—Guzman’sfilms are a mix of expository, observational, and reflective (you could even argue interactive, as he speaks directly to the viewer).

Question 19

How does the form of the film establish the connection between stars-earth, archaeology-astronomy-architecture?

Answer 19

The stars are juxtaposed with the earth’s calcium (as well as the calcium found in humans), which we discover comes from stars. Archeology, astronomy, and architecture are astronomy are analyzed through a historical lens with the purpose of discovering an origin and a history through memory/past discovery.

Question 20

Of the many cinematic techniques (mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, narrative, and style), which is most important in Nostalgia and why? Discuss with evidence.

Answer 20

I believe that narrative is the most important in Nostalgia, we are at first made to see the film as an astronomy documentary specifically regarding Chile. This misdirection and reveal of a deeper comparison is central to the film, we are made to reflect on connecting Chile’s dark past in its regime with its bright future as a leader in astronomical findings—both relating to its Atacama desert. Guzman says, regarding the desert, that “It is a condemned land, impregnated with salt, where human remains are mummified and objects are frozen in time. The thin, transparent air allows us to read this book of memory page by page.”

Question 21

First democratically-elected socialist president in the Americas

Answer 21

Salvador Allende

Question 22

Nostalgia for the Light director:

Answer 22

Patricio Guzmán

Question 23

Allende ousted by

Answer 23

CIA (Nixon) and Pinochet’s military coup

Question 24

Pinochet held accountable?

Answer 24

Nope

Question 25

Fundamental to Nostalgia for the Light

Answer 25

Editing

Question 26

Plebiscite

Answer 26

Votes Pinochet out

Question 27

Truth Commission

Answer 27

did not address the disappeared (only the proven dead) & did NOT take on the military

Question 28

Pinochet’s amnesty law 1978

Answer 28

gave immunity

Question 29

1980s and 1990s: consensus politics

Answer 29

granted immunity to Pinochet & other perpetrators (pacted with political parties not the families of the disappeared

Question 30

Allended ousted in

Answer 30

1973