Patricio Guzmán, Chilean documentary filmmaker, dies at 85

Chilean documentary filmmaker Patricio Guzmán has died in Paris at the age of 85. A prominent chronicler of his country’s political history, Guzmán’s work focused heavily on the trauma and memory of the 1973 coup d’état that overthrew the government of Salvador Allende.

His career spanned five decades and included more than 30 titles, 20 of which were dedicated to Chile. He gained international acclaim for his three-part series, ‘The Battle of Chile’, which documented the intensifying class struggles and political conflict surrounding the Popular Unity government.

After living in exile in Cuba and Spain, Guzmán remained dedicated to Chilean themes throughout his life, even as he received offers to film in Europe and the United States. His final feature film was ‘Mi país imaginario’ (2022).