La telenovela errante

“The film revolves around the concept of soap opera. Its structure is based on the assumption that Chilean reality does not exist, but rather is an ensemble of soap operas. There are four audio-visual provinces, and the threat of war is felt among the factions. The political and economic problems are immersed in a fictional jelly divided into evening episodes. The entire Chilean reality is seen from the point of view of the soap opera, which acts as a revealing filter of this same reality.”

The words of the inimitable Raúl Ruiz (1941-2011) talking about this film, completed this year by his widow, editor and filmmaker Valeria Sarmiento. Shot during a six-day 'workshop' in 1990 following the end of the Pinochet regime that had driven Ruiz into exile. The result is still hilarious and absurd – and for Chilean viewers probably still considerably closer to a recognisable reality than they would like.