Series Review: "ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium" (2019).

"The music you know. The stories you don't." This is ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium. This documentary film directed by B. J. Perlmutt and Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt. Known as Chile's Bob Dylan, Victor Jara was a fearless political singer who led the historic Nueva Cancion folk movement in Chile during the CIA-backed Pinochet dictatorship. Pinochet's regime eventually would torture and kill Jara - along with 3000 others - in the National Stadium, for writing a song about the covert killings.

Born on 28 September 1932, Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez would go on to become a poet, singer-songwriter, political activist, theater director, and teacher, in addition to becoming a leading figure in the historic Nueva Cancion folk movement. He developed Chilean theater by directing a broad array of works, ranging from locally produced plays to world classics, as well as the experimental work of playwrights such as Ann Jellicoe. He, and other neo-folkloric musicians, established the Nueva Canción Chilena (New Chilean Song) movement. This led to an uprising of new sounds in popular music during the administration of President Salvador Allende. Jara was arrested shortly after the Chilean coup of 11 September 1973, which overthrew Allende. On 16 September 1973, he was tortured during interrogations and ultimately shot dead, and his body was thrown out on the street of a shantytown in Santiago. The contrast between the themes of his songs - which focused on love, peace, and social justice—and the brutal way in which he was murdered transformed Jara into a "potent symbol of struggle for human rights and justice" for those killed during the Pinochet regime. In June 2016, a Florida jury found former Chilean Army officer Pedro Barrientos liable for Jara's murder. In July 2018, eight retired Chilean military officers were sentenced to 15 years and a day in prison for Jara's murder. Today, he is celebrated in his homeland. Every year, in Santiago, Chile, a festival of one-thousand guitars for Jara is held to celebrate his life and music. In 2003, the Chile Stadium was renamed to Victor Jara Stadium in honour of him.

The documentary is a startling, disturbing exploration of one of the worst atrocities of Chile. It ultimately solves little, and the film often sinks into a history lesson on Jamaica's muddled politics. It only adds to the collective curiosity surrounding Jara's death, but never quite satiates. Nonetheless, the documentary is a must see. An excellent doc on attempted shooting of the Chilean icon. It is a well-done, fact-setting reconsideration of Jara's brief but celebrated life. While certain facets of his life could have been explored in further detail, it presents a well-rounded and compelling chronicle of who Jara was and why we should still care. It rightfully weaves the music around its narrative, which by the way, is some of the greatest Chilean music ever made. The fact that it accomplishes so much in just over an hour is a testament to the love and respect Jara still inspires.

Simon says ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium receives:

Also, see my review for Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.