Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Paulina Palero I haven't seen a movie that seemed so honest and real in a long time. I believe that the actions taken by the characters are natural for them, the children take the decisions and act as children would act in real life. There are many movies now days where the actions of the characters don't seem to fit the character they are unnatural and sometimes even betray the character themselves, but not in Machuca, every action has a reason to be. This could have been a really bad movie if it had been done just a little bit different. There are not amazing shoots there are not long monologues that seem unnatural and every character is constant throughout the movie. The movie takes place at the end of the presidency of Salvador Allende and at the end of the democracy of Chile.Gonzalo and Pedro, the main character of the movie, become friends almost immediately, even though the they are from different social classes, Gonzalo's family supporting the right side and Pedro's family supporting the left side, the kids still become friends by fighting their bullies. This shows how children don't really care about the material stuff or how much money someone has, as long as they can have a fun with someone they will become friends. Gonzalo and Pedro might have very different lives but they understand each other and are intrigued with each other lives. Gonzalo is welcomed in Pedro's family. Gonzalo has his first reality shook when he goes to Pedro's house and sees how the other side of Chile lives. Gonzalo's reaction to Pedro's life is natural. He doesn't feel completely comfortable because he is used to way nicer things but he is not scared either, he is mature enough to understand that Pedro's family is not like his and he accepts it and doesn't let this difference come between his friendship with Pedro. He even decides to help them sell Chilean flags during protests. Whit this simple action Gonzalo gets a better understanding of the situation in Chile, even better than his mom who is shown supporting the right side and even being mean to Gonzalo's crush, Silvana. It is the adult who start to drive Gonzalo and Pedro apart. The families of Gonzalo and Pedro's school do not like the people of lower resources to go to the same school as they "privileged" children. Finally, the cruelty of the revolution drives them apart in a horrible way, Gonzalo tries to help his friend but he is in danger by doing so and ends up running away. We can see the regret of Gonzalo for ruing away but there is nothing he could have done but we know that he will be the change Chile will need in the future. The movie does a great job at showing both sides of the Chile revolution and at making it all seem real. The camera movements, the different shots, the actions of the characters with a reason behind them all help the movie be as realistic as possible and to be able to show both sided of the revolution. I truly enjoyed this movie and the story it tells. It is a movie that helps understand better the situation Chile went through.

j-timbers This is the story of the relationship between a boy from a middle class suburb and two children from a shanty town in Santiago during the dying days of Allende's democratically elected communist government, which as we know was overthrown by a cruel military dictatorship with CIA involvement.As others have pointed out this film does not idealise the Allende government, which was inspired by high ideals, but arguably created economic chaos in Chile. What it does do is explore the reality of class in terms of the relationship between the children. It is a coming-of-age movie in a time of political terror, where the moral and emotional realisations are linked to social and political developments, which both heighten the love between the central characters and intensify their separation and aloneness.The Far Left and the Far Right (like the US Republican Party and Fascists/ Baathists etc.)might both have difficulties with the way that morally compromising reality defeats propaganda in this film.Ken Loach, eat you heart out!

guajolotl Machuca is a recipient of the Unidad Popular program of President Allende. Allende had nationalized industry and agriculture, and embarked on a massive literacy program for Chile. We are made aware of problems, however, Gonzalo's sister's boyfriend is scary, and later we see him in a fascist demonstration. There is no meat, no vegetables, no milk in the stores. Chileans will recognize the hand of the CIA in collusion with the Chilean oligarchy, and the counterfeit money that was introduced into the country by the US to create inflation and scarcity and bring down the regime. The coup happens, and the army takes over the schools. The priest who was the principal and the liberal teachers disappear, reminiscent of "Au revoir les enfants." It is useful to compare these events with those 30 years later in Venezuela. Hugo Chávez was 17 when Allende took power, and was very much involved in following the Unidad Popular and their program. He lived through the coups in Chile and Argentina, and learned a thing or two. Many on the left criticized Allende for not calling out the army, a mistake Chávez was not to repeat. Although he had no need to declare war against the coup, Chávez had worked for 30 years with his men as lieutenant colonel, and gained the undying devotion of soldiers and population alike. When the CIA-engineered coup happened there, Venezuelans were ready, and the coup failed. One could say that without Allende there would be no Chávez.

Donnie Zuo This is almost the first Chilean film I've seen, and I was totally blown away by it.Seeing the three children rejoicing in a parade, one may already know that it's a serious historical film --- at least I did, especially when I related it to "Turtles can fly", another historical epic from children's view in the same year. However, you don't need to know very much about Chilean history to enter this story --- as long as you are familiar with the universal phrase of civil war.The three children brought forward incredibly amazing acting, which is quite different from the way American young stars do. They are rawer, looser and more original. Also it's obvious that the makers put a lot of efforts in cinematography to show us surprisingly poetic and childish views of the period. The story, though full of twists and turns, is as natural and convincing as one can be. It doesn't force your tears. They'll just come unaffectedly.After all, the pain of war is universal, and so is the darkness of society. Those issues may be far beyond our concerns, but the way people dealt with it is still worth thinking twice.