Documentary films, justice and memories. Portrayal of the trials held for the prosecution of those responsible for Argentina ́s and Chile ́s dictatorship in the 70’s

Abstract

In this paper we intend to analyze the documentary audiovisual productions about the trials held about the crimes committed during the civic–military dic-
tatorships of the 70’s in Argentina and Chile. We also propose to examine these films in the process of memory construction and their relationship with the memory policies outlined and developed in both countries around audiovisual production. We intend to make a comparative study of the documentary productions that represent the judicial processes in the Argentina and Chile, connecting, on the one hand, the relation history–cinema, verifiable
facts –representation of the reality and, on the other, audiovisual production and memory construction. It should be noted that the focus of inquiry is con-
densed on the representation of the trials and memories that come into dispute, that bid and struggle in the narrative plots of audiovisuals that take this issue as central to their productions. Two cases with certain similarities in the implantation and implementation of civic–military dictatorships are
studied comparatively in a synchronic manner, but with notable differences in the processes of democratic transition, the judging of those responsible and the outlining of memory policies, addressing the comparative analysis as to what happens with the judging and the filmic representation of these processes in both countries. The objectives that guide this research propose to consider the documentaries according to their country of origin, marking differences in the mode of representation: what elements and resources are used, how they represent events and which memories enter into dispute
in their narratives. We set to inquire about the strategies, resources and devices used to represent the trials.