Film Lens
The documentary 'The Opposition' recounts the events surrounding a World Cup qualifier at Santiago’s National Stadium in 2014. This stadium, which had recently been converted into a concentration camp under Augusto Pinochet's regime, became a site of political oppression shortly after the military coup. The film presents the stark contrast between the excitement of a national football match and the grim reality of human rights violations occurring in the same location.
Despite FIFA's awareness of the stadium's dark history, the match proceeded with the Chilean national team achieving victory after their opponents, the Soviet Union, boycotted the game in protest. The film captures the tension between national pride in sports and the backdrop of political turmoil, illustrating how sporting events can occur amidst severe human rights abuses.
Why Watch
- •See how sports intersect with political oppression in Chile.
- •Find out about the Soviet Union's protest during the match.
- •Meet key figures like Augusto Pinochet and their impact on sports.
Did You Know
•The National Stadium was transformed into a concentration camp in 1973.
•The match took place just weeks after Pinochet's military coup in Chile.
•The Soviet Union boycotted the game in protest of the political situation in Chile.
•The documentary has a runtime of 30 minutes.
Perfect For
Chilean historySports and politicsHuman rights issues