Educational Media Reviews Online

In September 1970 Salvador Allende won the Chilean presidential election as the Popular Unity candidate, a coalition of various left-wing political parties. He became Chile’s first socialist president and held this position until September 11, 1973, when the military overthrew his government. Filmed in the early 1970s, this film presents Allende’s first year in office starting on September 5, 1970, a few hours after his electoral victory. The director, Patricio Guzmán, traveled to various regions of Chile to interview individuals about the new president and his policies. Interview participants included the indigenous Mapuche, farm workers, coal miners, fisherman, and other workers in sectors such as copper mining, steel mills, and textile factories. Most of the individuals interviewed speak positively of the Allende government’s efforts to nationalize various industries to ameliorate economic and working conditions for laborers. Many of these conversations reveal the perspectives of workers, a class often ignored and exploited in the past.

The First Year commences with a brief introduction to Chile created by documentarian Chris Marker who adapted the original version of this film. This seven-minute overview discusses in French the country of Chile, its geography, history, political parties, economic challenges, and persistent class struggles. It provides helpful background to viewers who might know little about Chile and its fascinating past. The film portion related to Allende’s time in office starts fairly optimistically with miners and other laborers discussing improvements made by the government to their working conditions that also includes an increase in their wages. Participants note that under Allende’s leadership unemployment has decreased and nationalization of particular industries has finally kept profits in the country rather than going to foreign interests. It presents various festive scenes that include celebratory military parades, individuals singing Chilean folksongs or political songs, and applauding crowds surrounding Allende wherever he ventured.

As the film concludes at the end of Allende’s first year as president, Cuban leader Fidel Castro visits the country. Viewers will observe parades with throngs of Chileans cheering and welcoming Castro. It includes snippets of Castro’s speeches during his visit to various areas of Chile. Castro’s visit serves as the pinnacle of Allende’s first year in office which appears successful and leading to the creation of a more unified Chile. However, the film concludes with scenes of wealthier individuals protesting food shortages, right-wing demonstrations, and angry protestors throwing rocks at governmental vehicles. These concluding shots serve as harbingers of things to come.

This film originally appeared in 1972 but under Guzmán’s supervision it was restored and digitized in 2018 using the original 16 mm negatives. The First Year provides historical details related to wealthy Chileans who in the nineteenth century had established particular industries. Although they helped Chile grow economically and industrially, their monetary interests also widened the wealth gap within the country which Allende attempted to narrow. This film also offers an interesting examination of Chilean politics before the 1973 coup. One wonders what might have happened to individuals who had openly supported and praised Allende in this film after Allende’s overthrow. Some individuals spoke anonymously, which in hindsight might have saved their lives. In French and Spanish with English subtitles, The First Year is recommended for college courses in such disciplines as Latin American History, Labor Studies, and Political Science.

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