Chilean rock band Los Bunkers to score ‘The Last Witness’
A cinematic tribute to Chilean history
Los Bunkers, one of Latin America’s most revered rock bands, has taken on the task of scoring the documentary feature “The Last Witness”. This film is a poignant portrait of Luis Poirot, a Chilean photographer whose lens has captured pivotal moments and figures in the country’s history, from Salvador Allende to the social protests of 2019.
Capturing history through the lens
Some of Poirot’s earliest black-and-white photographs document Allende’s successful 1959 presidential campaign, where Poirot served as the official photographer. His clandestine shots of Chile’s presidential Palacio de la Moneda days after Allende’s death in a military coup are haunting, with windows shattered by Chilean Air Force strafing. Poirot also immortalized Pablo Neruda, the Nobel prize-winning poet, at his Isla Negra beachside home.
A documentary with a personal touch
Directed by Catalan documentarian-journalist Francesc Relea, known for works like “Serrat y Sabina: el símbolo y el cuate”, “The Last Witness” delves deep into Poirot’s life and work. The film features Poirot photographing bestselling novelist Isabel Allende (“The House of Spirits”), director Pablo Larrain (“Spencer”, “El Conde”), actor-theatre director Alfredo Castro, and Catalan singer-composer Joan Manuel Serrat. These figures provide voiceover commentary, adding layers of personal reflection and historical context.
A poignant anniversary
On the 50th anniversary of the 1973 coup d’état, images of Poirot’s photos of the strafed Casa de la Moneda were eerily projected onto its restored facade. Poirot’s reaction was instinctive: he took a photo. This moment underscores the enduring impact of his work and the importance of preserving historical memory.
The struggle to remember
Chilean cinema has long grappled with portraying the legacy of Augusto Pinochet’s 1973-1989 dictatorship and the struggle to preserve Chile’s historical memory. Poirot himself has been driven by a deep-seated obsession with memory. “I’ve been obsessed by memory, that we shouldn’t forget things. That’s why I became a photographer,” he reflects in the documentary.
Unveiling the archive
In “The Last Witness”, Poirot opens his heart and, for the first time, his unpublished photo archive. This intimate glimpse into his work offers a unique perspective on Chile’s turbulent history.
A musical connection
Poirot and Los Bunkers share a connection to Victor Jara, the influential protest singer who was arrested, tortured, and executed by Pinochet’s security forces. Poirot’s photos capture Jara laughing in a park, a stark contrast to his tragic fate. Los Bunkers have kept Jara’s legacy alive by performing his songs. “No death is justified, but Victor’s I do not forget and do not forgive,” Poirot tells Isabel Allende in the film.
Production details
Currently in the final editing stage before entering post-production, “The Last Witness” is produced by Chile’s Villano and Spain’s What’s Up Doc, founded by Relea. The feature was co-financed partly through crowdfunding, with producers Juan Pablo Sallato, Ismael Larraín, Juan Ignacio Sabatini, and Isabel Jubert at the helm.
A tribute to a photographic icon
“The Last Witness” is not just a documentary; it’s a tribute to a style of work and a symbol of Chilean and Latin American photography. Relea, who has known Poirot since the ’90s, aims to showcase the story of a great photographer who has witnessed some of the most important events of the past 50 years in Chile and Spain.
Villano’s passion for storytelling
Launched in 2009, Villano produces TV series like the celebrated procedural “The Hunt”, films such as “Kill Pinochet”, and documentary features. Villano producer Sallato emphasizes their commitment to storytelling: “I am convinced that our passion for creating films and series is driven by a profound desire to tell compelling stories that leave a lasting impact.”
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit The Last Witness.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and engaging overview of “The Last Witness”, enriched with personal reflections and in-depth analysis for cinema, TV series, and music enthusiasts.