Summary
The film is a contemplative exploration of the geography and history of Chile, with a focus on water, which permeates the country and sustains its people. The narrative examines the fate of two persecuted groups - the indigenous peoples and the victims of Pinochet. The topics covered include the far north of Chile, which is the driest place on earth, where radio telescopes in the desert reveal new insights about the cosmos every day. The film also touches on personal experiences, such as a school friend lost to the sea. The narrative delves into the genocide of the native tribes in the far south and how their way of life was destroyed. It also shares the story of Jemmy Button, who was taken from Tierra del Fuego to England. The film touches on the efforts made under Allende to rehabilitate the surviving tribespeople and the concentration camps established under Pinochet. It depicts how inmates were tortured and their bodies, weighted with lengths of rail, were dropped from helicopters into the Pacific. The film reveals how one corpse was washed ashore, and how one of the lengths of rail recovered from the sea had a mother-of-pearl shirt button encrusted to it. Overall, the film provides a powerful meditation on the impact of historical events on individuals and communities.References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pearl Button, The 2015 films 2015 documentary films Chilean documentary films 2010s Spanish-language films Films directed by Patricio Guzmán Documentary films about historical events History of Magallanes Region Genocide of indigenous peoples of South America Yaghan Documentary films about indigenous rights Documentary films about Latin America Kawésqar