Guzmán’s moving portrait of the Chilean leader retraces the path of his early years and the terrible end of his political career, speaking with surviving friends, family members and loyal followers in order to define the personality and political ideas that guided his revolutionary program. Combining archival photographs with stirring footage from contemporary newsreels and The Battle of Chile, Guzmán’s documentary balances Allende’s own words- including his last radio address recorded shortly before his death- with the memories of those he inspired, including Guzmán himself whose commentary reflects upon Allende’s profound influence upon his life and films. A deeply personal and poetic archaeology, Salvador Allende revisits sites and memories still resonant with Allende’s presence and colored by a palpable sadness and sense of loss. – HG

Guzmán realized his childhood dream of visiting the island of Robinson Crusoe which, as it happens, is a Chilean territory, located far off the nation’s coast. While he searches for traces of Defoe’s hermit hero, Guzmán shares his discovery of the strange island and the eccentric community living there. – HG