The Pinochet Case

Name: The Pinochet Case
Genre: Documentary
Released: September 11, 2002
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 84

2002

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 11 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 11 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

First Run Features | Release Date: September 11, 2002

Summary: This documentary follows the legal cases that ultimately led to former General Augusto Pinochet being arrested and tried for his crimes against humanity committed over the 25 years that he ruled Chile as one of the most notorious tyrants of the 20th century.

Director: Patricio Guzmán

Genre(s): Documentary

Runtime: 110 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Jonathan Curiel

Interviews with Pinochet's victims put a human face on the systematic torture that existed under his rule. Read full review

100

Stephen Holden

Eloquent, meticulously structured documentary -- Sober political and legal analysis alternates with grim first-hand accounts of torture and murder in a film that has the structure of a choral symphony that swells to a bittersweet finale. Read full review

Deborah Young

It's hard to walk away unaffected from this heartfelt, well-researched, feature-length documentary. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

Chilean filmmaker Patricio Guzman's powerful and sometimes triumphant documentary is not only an excellent overview of the affair, but serves as the perfect finale to his monumental trilogy about the coup and its aftermath, which began with "The Battle of Chile" (1978). Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Because stateside newspapers aren't enough, "The Battle of Chile" (possibly the most riveting and vital historical document ever put on celluloid) should be a prerequisite to Guzmán's new doc, The Pinochet Case. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

A riveting documentary. Read full review

Jack Mathews

The film is at its most compelling when the witnesses are telling their stories, and at its least in covering Pinochet's circuitous legal route to Britain's House of Lords. Read full review

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Mixed:

User Reviews

PauloP.

Dec 2, 2005

This film should be essential viewing for anyone trying to make a case for the treatment of detainees in the US's "war on terror." Watch "Trials of Henry Kissinger," and then this film, and you'll get a pretty good idea for why Bush II will never "win" anything. As for This film should be essential viewing for anyone trying to make a case for the treatment of detainees in the US's "war on terror." Watch "Trials of Henry Kissinger," and then this film, and you'll get a pretty good idea for why Bush II will never "win" anything. As for Ricardo's comments - people died in the French Revolution (and many other revolutions) fighting for democracy, just like those who were killed in Chile during the Pinochet years. Pinochet's involvement in those killings is indefensible, to say that a government can kill and torture people in the name of democracy is absolutely ludicrous.… Expand

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MarianoO.

Feb 10, 2006

It's really sickening, disgusting and also very sad the way Ricardo sees the "reality" of his country. No one should be called a hero if there is over them the slightest shadow of doubt about such a delicate thing as human rights. Why does Ricardo give that adjective to a mass murderer It's really sickening, disgusting and also very sad the way Ricardo sees the "reality" of his country. No one should be called a hero if there is over them the slightest shadow of doubt about such a delicate thing as human rights. Why does Ricardo give that adjective to a mass murderer like Pinochet? There are many, many documents available today that allow us to know what really happened in Chile. It's the same old story: as long as they don't get touched by the violence of a government, it's "understandable", "they did deserved it" or "it was for the sake of the country". What a shame, Ricardo! And you call yourself a chilean? Patricio Guzmán has dedicated many years of his life to document those dark years and this movie is one of his best works.… Expand

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