Staring into the dust of El infierno del Chaco

Is it worth your time?

If you have a thing for historical artifacts or documentaries that haven't been scrubbed clean by modern editing, yes. You should watch this. But if you need a clear narrative or a narrator holding your hand, you’re going to be bored out of your mind within five minutes.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of En el infierno del Chaco (1932) through its definitive frames.

It’s a rough watch. It’s for the people who like to see the seams in film history. 🎥

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of En el infierno del Chaco (1932) through its definitive frames.

There is a version of this floating around from 1938, and honestly, the film feels like it's trying to hold onto its own sanity. It’s got these jagged transitions where peace negotiations pop up, and the contrast is just jarring. One minute you're looking at the absolute misery of the front lines, and the next, guys in suits are shaking hands. It gives you whiplash.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of En el infierno del Chaco (1932) through its definitive frames.

Roque Funes is in there, but don't expect a performance in the traditional sense. It’s more like he’s just… existing in the frame, caught in the middle of this madness. There's this one shot of a group of soldiers sitting in the dirt that lingers way too long. It’s not poetic. It’s just quiet. It makes you realize how much time has passed since these guys were actually standing there.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of En el infierno del Chaco (1932) through its definitive frames.

It’s funny, I found myself thinking about Hongxia while watching this, just because both films deal with the weight of conflict in such different, yet heavy ways. Or maybe that's just me drifting off.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of En el infierno del Chaco (1932) through its definitive frames.

The pacing is non-existent. It’s just a collection of moments that happen to be stuck together on a reel. Some of the images are so grainy you’re basically squinting to see if that’s a tree or a piece of rusted artillery. I kind of love that about it.

• The sound is practically non-existent. Silence makes the war feel louder.
• Some of the editing choices are… choices. Very sudden cuts.
• The peace negotiation footage feels like it belongs in a completely different movie.
• I’m pretty sure I saw a dog walking through the background of a war zone. Nobody mentions it.

It’s not trying to win awards. It’s just trying to show you what happened, and even then, it’s failing half the time because the footage is so old and beat up. But that’s why it works. It doesn't feel like a movie. It feels like a mistake you weren't supposed to find. 🎞️

Don't look for a lesson. Don't look for a hero. Just look at the dust. It’s everywhere.