Memories of a Dreamer: The Journey of a Political Prisoner

Alisson Larrea's documentary presents a stark portrayal of Chile during Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship, seen primarily through the firsthand account of Félix Mora, who was a teenage member of Chile's socialist youth movement. Following the 1973 coup that toppled President Salvador Allende, Mora was arrested and tortured under Pinochet's regime. Incarcerated for a year—including a period of near-starvation at the Victor Jara Stadium in Santiago, where many were confined (in one stunning anecdote, he tells of inmates being hidden when FIFA World Cup officials toured the facility)—Mora eventually developed typhus, after which he was placed under house arrest. In 1974, Mora left his country for exile in Rome, and later settled in Canada, where he became a human rights activist. It was only after Pinochet resigned in 1990 that Mora returned to his barely recognizable homeland. Memories of a Dreamer questions why the rebellion against the junta was so long in coming, and also looks at the negligent global response to Chilean human rights offenses of the era. Although Larrea incorporates archival footage and dramatizations, she relies primarily on interviews, as Mora—joined by his family, and fellow prisoner Jorge Aro—painfully yet eloquently recalls his experiences and the challenges of life as an expatriate. DVD extras include a director's introduction, an interview with Mora, and a lesson plan/guidebook. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)