La agonía de Arauco

Summary

A cataclysmic domestic tragedy shatters the fragile equilibrium of a bourgeois Chilean family when an unwitting paternal act culminates in the untimely demise of his own child, precipitating his immediate, desperate self-annihilation. This unfathomable chasm of grief propels Isabel, the newly widowed matriarch, on an arduous, southward odyssey across the rugged Chilean landscape. Her journey is not merely geographical; it is a profound internal exile, a desperate quest for an ephemeral solace beyond the searing memories. Amidst the verdant, ancient territories of the Mapuche people, her path intersects with a young indigenous boy, igniting a poignant cultural collision. This encounter forces Isabel to confront not only her own profound sorrow but also the stark realities and spiritual resonance of a culture profoundly distinct from her own, challenging her preconceived notions of loss, healing, and identity. This groundbreaking cinematic endeavor, a silent film marvel, stands as a testament to the pioneering vision of Gabriela Bussenius, the first woman to direct a feature in the nascent annals of Chilean cinematography.

Synopsis

A father accidentally kills his son and then commits suicide. The wife (Isabel) begins a long journey of pain and forgetfulness towards the south of Chile, there she meets a mapuche child an the conflict of her culture. It is the first directed by a woman, silent film pioneer of Chilean cinematography.