Patricio Guzmán’s My Imaginary Country turns the camera toward the Chilean protests of 2019–20, yet it transcends reportage to become a lyrical chronicle of collective imagination. Through a blend of on‐the‐ground protest footage, intimate interviews, and wide-angle panoramas of Santiago’s plazas, Guzmán maps the energy of a generation demanding systemic change. He weaves together moments of thunderous street chants and quiet reflection—grand assemblies in the rain, murals painted overnight, and conversations with young activists—to show how an “imaginary” vision of a more just society ignited millions. The film’s nonlinear structure mirrors the movement itself: fluid, participatory, and propelled by hope even in the face of riot police lines and tear gas.

What resonated most for me was Guzmán’s gift for capturing both the raw urgency of protest and its deeply human undercurrent. A sequence where demonstrators lay candles in the shape of a phoenix left me breathless—a visual metaphor for rebirth born out of anguish. Guzmán’s understated narration never overexplains; instead, he trusts the camera and the voices of the people to carry the emotional punch. The soundtrack—snatches of street percussion and spontaneous singing—blends seamlessly with the visuals, creating a kinetic collage that pulses with solidarity. Ultimately, My Imaginary Country reminded me that film can do more than document history; it can help forge it, giving tangible form to the dreams that drive social change.

-Amyy Mubeen