With exquisite shots of the night sky, this beautifully made film starts out as an ode to the stars and space. However, not long into the film the documentary takes a sharp turn towards the more earthbound topic of human rights in Chile. In less-skilled hands this shift would be clunky, but director Patricio Guzman handles it seamlessly. The film takes place in Chile’s Atacama Desert, which at 10,000 feet is also the least humid place on Earth. The altitude and the lack of moisture in the air is a boon for stargazing but also helps to preserve bodies, from ancient mummies to the more recently disappeared, political prisoners, victims of Chile’s fractious history. As a result, astronomers look to the sky, while bereft widows and family members dig in the dirt, trying to find traces of their loved ones. The juxtaposition makes for an enormously powerful and affecting film.
–DH