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Deep Dive: The Pearl Button (2015)

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The Pearl Button
The Pearl Button is a documentary by Patricio Guzmán that examines the geography and history of Chile, focusing particularly on water. It addresses the fates of two persecuted groups: the indigenous Alacalufe and Yaghan tribes and the victims of the Pinochet regime. The film integrates personal narratives, including the story of a school friend lost to the sea, and reflects on the broader historical context of Chile's past. The film's title is inspired by a shirt button found during a 2004 investigation by Chilean judge Juan Guzmán, which was linked to the victims of Pinochet's regime. It also recounts the story of Jemmy Button, a Yaghan native taken to England in 1830. The documentary includes accounts of the genocide of native tribes and the establishment of concentration camps under Pinochet, illustrating the impact of these historical events on the lives of individuals and communities.

Why Watch

  • •See the impact of Pinochet's regime on Chilean society.
  • •Meet the last surviving members of the Alacalufe and Yaghan tribes.
  • •Find out about Jemmy Button's journey to England.

Did You Know

•The Pearl Button won the Silver Bear for Best Script at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in 2015.
•Jemmy Button was taken aboard HMS Beagle in 1830, named after a button.
•Salvador Allende was Chile's president from 1970 to 1973.
•The film is part of a trilogy that includes Nostalgia for the Light and The Cordillera of Dreams.

Perfect For

Chilean historyIndigenous rightsDocumentary enthusiasts