Felipe Gálvez on The Settlers: Chile's hidden history, Selna, cinema's role in the genocide

Felipe Gálvez, director of 'The Settlers', offers a poignant perspective on his debut film in a captivating interview from the sunny shores of Cannes. The director paints a vivid picture of 'Settlers', a cinematic retelling of a largely erased genocide in southern Chile. Galvez aims to challenge viewers with the image of Selna, used as a commercial symbol while its history remains untold. He further elaborates on the storytelling approach, explaining his unique fusion of Western influences and the perspective of a Chilean settler. The director also delves into the film's casting process, detailing the challenges they faced and praising the contribution of the actors, particularly Mark Stanley and Sam Spruell, in this pandemic-era project. Galvez's focus on realistic, brutal depictions of violence serves to honour the historical truth and provoke thought about cinema's role in shaping perceptions of genocide. His passion for crafting authentic, emotionally-charged scenes and an open-minded approach to set-based improvisation becomes evident. The movie, he hopes, will awaken viewers to the multiplicity of violence and its normalisation in society.

Interviewer/video: Sarah Bradbury (@sarabradbury)

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