Machuca

What thoughts do I have about the interactions between these two children?

I thought that Pedro and Gonzalo formed a very endearing relationship. Gonzalo stood up for Pedro from the beginning. He knew what it felt like to be harassed and bullied around, and saw an opportunity to become friends with Pedro. Neither of the two were judgemental against the other when they went to each others homes, even though their experiences there were similar. Gonzalo was often ridiculed by Pedro's family and friends, constantly being called a snob and even being harassed by Pedro's father. Pedro is welcomed mostly by his family, except for his sister's boyfriend, who ridiculed Pedro. These boys developed a strong friendship until politics got in the way, of all things!

Were you able to see the differences between the two social classes, the rich and the poor in Chile?

Most definitely. The movie made it very clear about how both classes lived and interacted with each other. I thought that the two scenes where each class conducted their own protests was very interesting. Opposers of Allende (the rich) were chanting, "The country is not for sale! Jump if you're not a commie!", while supporters of Allende (the poor) were chanting, "Jump if you're not a mummy!" The mummy referred to being rich and spoiled. All the while Father McEnroe was the pivot point on the see-saw between the two classes. At school he preached to respect one another and was trying to teach the boys how to be real gentlemen, and to be different from what the country of Chile was turning into. Gonzalo lived in a very nice neighborhood and had a large, beautiful home; Pedro lived in a shantytown where there were dirt floors and several family members all crowded into one living space.

What messages can you obtain from this film? Add your personal thoughts about film, content, culture, issues, etc.

This film was made so the whole world would know the history of Chile, and what the country and its citizens went through. It highlighted the friendship between Pedro and Gonzalo- two boys from completely different backgrounds become friends even though their lives were polar opposites. The political climate was about to come to a head, with each boy representing the two social classes. When the political climate changed, so did the boy's relationships. They became consumed with the hatred that both sides had for each other, and became absorbed in the insulting, abusive ways that people showed during this time. At the end of the movie, I'm not sure whether Pedro and Gonzalo were able to come to an understanding. Pedro was being taken away and his home being destroyed while Gonzalo was able to escape the soldiers only because of his physical appearance. This movie exemplified what social and political situations can do to relationships, both inside and outside your community.