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Nostalgia for the Light

2010 · Movie · 93 min

7.6(169)unSUB Rating

Documentary

In Chile’s Atacama Desert, scientists scan the night sky for clues about the origins of life while, nearby, women comb the sand for traces of relatives taken during a brutal dictatorship. The film links cosmic exploration with an intimate search for truth and remembrance.

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Details
Original title
Nostalgia de la luz
Years
2010
Release date
2010-10-27
Language
Spanish
Runtime
93 min
TMDB rating (input)
7.4/10 (169 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a reflective documentary that connects science, memory, and human rights through quiet observation; Not for you if you prefer fast pacing or lighter themes, like Hidden Kingdoms.

Pros: haunting desert setting; thoughtful human stories; big existential questions | Cons: slow, meditative pace; heavy historical subject; minimal action

Themes

  • chile
  • astronomer
  • genocide
  • desert
  • astronomy
  • archeology
  • political prisoners

Awards & recognition

  • European Film AwardBest Documentary · 2010
  • European Film AwardBest Documentary · 2010 · nominated

Cast & crew

  • GG

    Gaspar Galaz

    as Himself - Astronomer

  • LN

    Lautaro Núñez

    as Himself - Archeologist

  • LH

    Luís Henríquez

    as Himself

  • MI

    Miguel

    as Himself - Architect

  • VG

    Victor Gonzalez

    as Himself - Engineer

  • VS

    Vicky Saaveda

    as Herself

  • VB

    Violeta Berrios

    as Herself

  • GP

    George Preston

    as Himself - Astronomer

  • VR

    Valentina Rodríguez

    as Herself

Directed by Patricio Guzmán