The Black Pimpernel

Epsilon Delta

Jedi Master
Jul 16, 2008
2,687
373
48
Central America
Watched this movie today and thought maybe some would find it interesting. It revolves around heroic Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam in in the days before, during, and after the tragedy of Steptember 11th... 1973, when the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in Chile was destroyed in a coup d'etat by the Chilean military in concert with the CIA, leaving thousands of dead, even more thousands tortured, and an entire country under a brutal military dictatorship. The film starts a few days before the Coup and ends a few days after, chronicling the efforts of Edelstam to save as many political refugees as possible and standing up to the terrorist military junta that took control.

Edelstam himself was already a bonafide hero- he had been stationed in Nazi Germany and Norway during the Second World War and took an active role protecting and hiding Jews from the fascists, as well as protecting Norwegian freedom fighters under German Occupation. He had been stationed in Guatemala during a one of the most turbulent periods of the 30-year terrorist military junta there (1969), while most foreign dignitaries feared for their lives and kept a full staff of armed guards inside compounds, Edelstam met several popular organizations and groups and ardently denounced the brutal human rights abuses commited daily by the Guatemalan government.

Highly recommended, even if it does have a somewhat low production value, the acting is some of the most authentic I've seen, the scenes are well set up, and it provides a dazzling picture of one of history's most colourful and undersung human rights warriors in history.
 

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