PINOCHET IN SUBURBIA
UK, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.
Derek Jacobi, Phyllida Law, Peter Capaldi, Yolanda Vazquez, Anna Massey, Pip Torrens, Michael Maloney, Susan Wooldridge.
Directed by Richard Curson Smith.
Pinochet in Suburbia was written by its director Richard Curson Smith. It is a glimpse of a year in General Pinochet’s life which he spend in London, under house arrest, fighting extradition papers.
The film focuses on this narrow period but, verbally, goes back to Pinochet’s coup against Salvador Allende in 1973, the oppression, the torture and persecution, the disappeared during his seventeen years in office. During the 1990s he was a senator.
The film also shows Chilean campaigners in London protesting against Pinochet and demanding justice. Amnesty International is involved through the character of Andy Mc Entee, played by Peter Capaldi.
Derek Jacobi gives a very interesting performance as Pinochet with Phyllida Law as his wife. Anna Massey does an interesting impersonation of Baroness Thatcher. Michael Maloney does not look exactly like Jack Straw but portrays the foreign secretary of the period. The supporting cast includes Pip Torrens as Pinochet’s law, Yolanda Vazquez as the chief Chilean protester and Jessica Stevenson as the police officer who has to guard Pinochet.
The film shows the old man, his imperious and arrogant manner, his experiencing imprisonment and railing against it. The film also shows the politicking by his opponents, the role of the Chilean government, the Spanish government and its plans for its extradition for crimes against Spanish citizens, the British Foreign Office and its diplomacy in dealing with Pinochet, his arrest and his ultimate leaving for Chile.
1.Audience attitudes to General Pinochet, the background of his coup in Chile, his role in the 70s and 80s, the dictatorship, the anti-communism, the number of people arrested, tortured and murdered? International response to him? Those in favour, especially Baroness Thatcher? The others who are quoted as asking for mercy for him including Cardinal Ratzinger?
2.The glimpse of Pinochet in his old age, the background of his career, his personality, relationships, especially with his wife? The numbering of the days on screen of his house arrest?
3.The London settings, the Surrey mansion? The house and the grounds, the court? Protests? The musical score?
4.The insertion of actual footage, of news broadcasts, of current affairs programs with Jeremy Paxman, of footage of the House of Lords and the decisions of the lords?
5.Derek Jacobi and his impersonation of Pinochet? Age, the senator, his own self-image, his relationship with his wife, the welcome by Margaret Thatcher? In the hotel? Going to hospital, his arrest? His reaction and arrogance? The house arrest, the police, his harsh attitudes towards the policewoman? Later relenting and walking and talking with her? Discussing her marriage? His lawyer, the discussions, his presumption about being freed? His visitors? At home, watching television, petulance at the meals, his wife?
6.The explanations of Allende’s overthrow? American support? The arrested, the tortured and the disappeared? The role of communism in Chile in the 70s and 80s? The people who left Chile? Those who remained?
7.Amnesty International, Andy Mc Entee and his role, character, contact with Nicole, the phone calls, the plans? The information from the hotel maid? The hospital, going to the police, the various discussions about immunity, the political background, Spain and extradition? Offences against nationals in another country and legislation after 1988?
8.Jack Straw, his political background, the discussions, his advisers? His past visit to Chile, anti-Pinochet? Happy that he was arrested? The scenes with his son and his son’s reaction?
9.The House of Lords, the speeches by the lords, their decisions, the television footage?
10.Nicole, her work, with Andy Mc Entee, with the protesters, the communist not wanting crosses to be placed on the earth as a memento? The perspectives on Chile, on Pinochet? Abrasive, wanting revenge? The PR session and the impassioned speech by Nicole?
11.The lawyer, his advice, work, visits, finally angry with Pinochet?
12.Margaret Thatcher and her visits, her gifts, her attitudes, the help in the Falklands, anti-communism, seeing Pinochet as an ally? Her expressions of disgust with the government?
13.The review, the House of Lords, the historic overturning of the decision? The courts and judges? Issues of diplomacy? The role of the Chilean government? Their advice?
14.The effect of imprisonment on Pinochet, not allowed into the garden, finally walking? His reactions? His chaplain, receiving communion?
15.The psychological test, his answers, testing whether he could return to Chile? Margaret Thatcher coming to farewell him?
16.The end, the government move, his returning to Chile? In fact his being too ill to go to court?
17.An interesting glimpse at British and Chilean history? Dictator, justice?
