Massacre at the Stadium is a documentary that cuts deep to the heart and earns its place with the best. It is the first in the ReMastered series that examines the life and subsequent execution of Victor Jara, a Chilean folk singer, poet and a political activist who spoke out against the military government of Augusto Pinochet during his coup in Chile in 1973 and for all intents and purposes, became the symbol of resistance. Sporadic footage, haunting accounts and family and fellow activist voices narrated within the exposé helped the audience unravel the story behind Jara’s death at Estadio Chile (currently Estadio Victor Jara) and the gruesome details surrounding the event.
Cast & Contributors
- Víctor Jara (archival footage) – The poignant center of the story, portrayed through his music and activism.
- Joan Jara – Víctor’s widow, who offers a moving firsthand account of her husband’s legacy and the fight for justice.
- Various historians and witnesses – Including journalists and survivors who bring crucial context to the coup and its aftermath.
Synopsis
This account features a blend of politics and music which reaches out all the way to the contemporaneous atrocities occurring within the streets of Chile. In addition, there is an exposition of Jara’s humble beginnings, his eventual arrest by Pinochet, and the panic that the world suffered from his demise. It is a simple cinematic approach that is ironical and pungent. It shows three simple facts- that human beings are competent of unimaginable cruelty, but there are always some who strive to shield a fraction of that humanity, and out of the remnants they hope to create art that challenges the discriminatory society all around us. The documentary makes one thing crystal clear, that the level of oppression and the power of art is something which should never be underestimated.
Lastly, oppression makes some people vulnerable but it creates even more robust communities around them, therefore, the message that the documentary leaves behind is a stark reminder that such societies should be encouraged and praised on every possible occasion.
