Watches
August 04, 2023
A peculiar documentary that tries to connect various unrelated things found in a centralized place. It sounds like a stretch, and sadly, it is. Guzmán tries very hard to connect astronomy and Chile's dark past by exploring the Atacama Desert, but his poetic associations lack substance.
It's a shame because the presentation is rather neat. The slow-paced cinematography and the moody score make for an atmospheric documentary. It's the interviews and the poorly connected subject matter that detracts from the experience. The interview with astronomer Gaspar Galaz, in particular, irked me.
An abundance of new age quotes sit badly with the gruesome history of Chile that many are trying to forget. The only tangible link between these themes is the Atacama Desert, but putting everything in a single documentary makes little sense. A failed experiment, but not without its moments.