Machuca

A tender, heartbreaking coming-of-age story set against a political crisis, blending warmth and innocence with a growing sense of dread.

Directed by

Andrés Wood

Genres

Drama

Starring

Matías Quer, Ariel Mateluna, Aline Küppenheim

Tagline

Two boys observe a political coup in their native Chile.

Overview

Santiago, capital of Chile during the Marxist government of elected, highly controversial president Salvador Allende. Father McEnroe supports his leftist views by introducing a program at the prestigious "collegio" (Catholic prep school) St. Patrick to allow free admission of some proletarian kids. One of them is Pedro Machuca, slum-raised son of the cleaning lady in Gonzalo Infante's liberal-bourgeois home. Yet the new classmates become buddies, paradoxically protesting together as Gonzalo gets adopted by Pedro's slum family and gang. But the adults spoil that too, not in the least when general Pinochet's coup ousts Allende, and supporters such as McEnroe.

How it feels

Melancholic, tense, earnest and dark. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Class, friendship, coming-of-age, politics

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore, sexual content and language.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)